University of Tennessee at Chattanooga golf coach Mark Guhne spoke on the phone as statistics from the Mocs’ second round of regionals blew into the hotel pool.
There wasn’t much good news for him on those papers anyway.
The Mocs are in 11th place after two rounds at the NCAA Southwest Regional at Carlton Oaks Golf Club.
Only the top five squads from each advance to the NCAA Championship at The Honors Course on June 1-6.
“We’d have to do something really special to make it back home,” Guhne said, while the players tried to enjoy San Diego sunshine. “We’d have to shoot 7 or 8 under just have a chance.”
NCAA men’s Southwest RegionalThe top five advance to the NCAA Championship at The Honors Course1 Oregon +82 Cal +103 UNLV +124 Augusta State +135 Tennessee +146 Central Florida +20T7 San Diego State +22T7 New Mexico State +229 UC-Irvine +2410 Missouri +2611 UTC +2712 Arizona +2813 Oral Roberts +30NCAA Golf Regional tournament leadersCentral: StanfordEast: Tied–Texas, Kent StateSouth Central: Texas A&MSoutheast: ClemsonSouthwest: OregonWest: Washington
The Mocs shot 11-over par on Friday and are 27 over for the tournament. Oregon leads at 8 over, Tennessee is fifth at 14 over and six shots clear of sixth-place Central Florida.
“It’s not just the strokes we’d have to make up, it’s the number of teams we’d have to jump that makes it difficult,” Guhne said. “We’re going to play as hard as we can and represent Chattanooga.”
Freshman Steven Fox had the best UTC round of the day with an even-par 72. Senior Derek Rende shot 73, sophomore Stephan Jaeger shot 74, senior Fredrik Qvicker shot 80 and senior J.T. Clendenin had the drop score.
“The guys are swimming in the pool, but they’re pretty down,” Guhne said. “It’s tough. Lunch was very quiet today.”
Fox is tied for 13th at 3 over and Jaeger is tied for 18th at 4 over. The top individual not on a team advancing to the championship will move on to The Honors Course.
But Cal-State Northridge junior Nick Delio, playing as an individual, leads the medalist at 4 under. Former Hixson High School and Southern Miss senior Paul Apyan is tied for 42nd at 7 over.
“Unless we do something really special, we’re heading into the seniors’ last round of college golf,” Guhne said. “I’d like to see the seniors go out with a good round. That would be good for them.”
Pancake finishes 12th
WILMINGTON, N.C. — Former Baylor School golfer Brooke Pancake finished 12th in the NCAA Women’s Championship at the Country Club of Landfall on Friday.
Her 1-under 287 for the tournament helped Alabama finish third, which is a school-record for the Crimson Tide.
Purdue won its first national championship by finishing at 1 over, and edged Southern Cal by a single stroke. Caroline Hedwall of Oklahoma State earned medalist honors at 12 under.