The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s golf team didn’t play as well in the first round of the NCAA Southwest Regional as coach Mark Guhne would have liked.
But it could have been worse, and there is time to repair the damage.
The Mocs shot 16-over-par 304 as a team and are in a three-way tie for 10th after the first round at Carlton Oaks Golf Club outside San Diego.
“We had too many big numbers,” Guhne said by phone. “We made some doubles and triples (bogeys), and we can’t do that. If we can eliminate those, then things will be wide open because this course is so hard.”
Former Hixson High golfer and Southern Miss senior Paul Apyan is tied for fourth as an individual at 71. He can advance to the NCAA Championship if he is the low individual not on an advancing team.
Tennessee, Oregon, California and UNLV are tied for the lead at 294. Central Florida holds the precious fifth spot at 295 because the top five teams advance to the NCAA finals June 1-6 at The Honors Course.
“We can play this golf course, and everybody played well at times today,” Guhne said. “Every time somebody got momentum going, something would happen like a double.”
Sophomore Stephan Jaeger shot a 2-over 74 to lead UTC. He is in a six-way tie for 18th with another former Baylor golfer, Jay Vandeventer of Tennessee, among others. Eddie Olson of UNLV leads at 4 under.
NCAA Golf Regional leadersCentral: StanfordEast: TexasSouth Central: Texas A&M, TCUSoutheast: Oklahoma StateSouthwest: Oregon, Cal, Tennessee, UNLVWest: Washington
“The 74 Jaeger shot wasn’t a bad score at all,” Guhne said. “He’s a really smart player, and that’s the way he played today. He kept doubles off the card.”
Freshman Steven Fox shot 75, senior Fredrik Qvicker shot 76, senior Derek Rende shot 79 and senior J.T. Clendenin had the drop score of 82.
“They’re a little disappointed we didn’t get off to the start they wanted,” Guhne said. “But nine shots out of fifth isn’t that bad.”
Pancake tied for 10th
Former Baylor golfer Brooke Pancake is tied for 10th heading into the final round of the NCAA women’s championship at Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington, N.C.
The Alabama sophomore shot par on Thursday and is at even-par 216 for the tournament. The Crimson Tide team is tied for third with Arizona State at 7 over. Purdue leads at 6 under, and Southern Cal is seven shots back.