The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga golf team slipped a spot during the final round of the Linger Longer Invitational on Sunday and finished third with a three-round total of 4-over-par 868 at the Reynolds Landing Golf Club in Greensboro, Ga.
The 17th-ranked Mocs finished 12 shots behind No. 36 Ole Miss and seven shots behind No. 1 Georgia.
“We had a chance to win, and we didn’t close the deal,” Mocs coach Mark Guhne said. “I think we learned a lot today. Every time you get going down the back-stretch and it’s neck-and-neck, it doesn’t do anything but make you stronger.”
The Mocs were a handful of strokes off the lead when the final group made the turn, but the Rebels and Bulldogs showed their experience over the final holes.
UTC sophomore J.T. Clendenin finished in a tie for sixth at 215 despite shooting a 77 on Sunday.
“J.T. got off to a great start in the tournament, and I think he’s proving what kind of player he really is,” Guhne said. “Closing the deal at this level is a difficult thing. It took Jonathan (Hodge) a couple years.”
Hodge tied for 10th at 217. Derek Rende shot a 220, Ben Rickett shot a 221 and Fredrik Qvicker shot a 225.
“All in all, it’s been a great week,” Guhne said. “Finishing third is not a bad finish against a great a field in a great tournament.”
The Mocs return to action next Monday as the defending champs of the University of South Alabama Spring Golf Classic and in the Furman Intercollegiate starting next Friday.
“It seems like we’re halfway through our spring schedule,” Guhne said. “Actually, we are. We’ve played in three and we’ve got three more before the postseason.”
