UTC golfers Emily McLennan, Sarah Dolmovich, and Agathe Sauzon, from left, practice in this file photo.Sarah Dolmovich draped a towel over her shoulders and wouldn’t let go of her pullover Monday at Council Fire Golf Club.
Dolmovich, playing as an individual for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, her teammates and every other participant in the Chattanooga Classic endured wet, windy and cold conditions for the better part of the 36-hole first day.
“I’m pretty sure there are a lot of people who aren’t real happy with me, because in conditions like this they want to throw in the towel,” said UTC coach Colette Murray, whose team is hosting the event. “But when you say you’re going to play a 54-hole tournament, you should do everything you can to do that.”
The Mocs shot a 594 and lead Central Arkansas by seven strokes and Western Kentucky by 19. NCAA Division II member Lee University is tied for sixth out of 10 teams at 628, and the NAIA’s Dalton State is ninth at 642.
“I’m pretty pleased considering the conditions and the 45-minute delay,” Murray said. “When it’s that wet and that cold, it’s hard to keep your head up and persevere. We’ve done it all season, so we were well equipped mentally for today. They girls weren’t looking for us to call it off.”
Vanderbilt junior Morgan Ransom leads the medalist race after posting a 1-under 143. She and three teammates are playing as individuals.
UTC’s Agathe Sauzon is tied for second at 145 after a 2-under 70 in the afternoon round — with Isabelle Kane of Dartmouth. Isabella Loza shot a 147 for the Mocs’ next-best score, and Emily McLennan shot a 150.
“I could make some putts in the rain, which I couldn’t do in the morning,” Sauzon said. “The morning I wasn’t real happy with, but I’m pretty happy with the afternoon, especially in bad weather.”
Lee’s Lady Flames were led by a 155 from Caroline Moore. Dalton State’s Lady Roadrunners were paced by a 153 from Julia McQuilken.
“The first 18 went pretty well,” DSC coach Jim McGrew said. “Then inexperience playing in those conditions really hurt us. This is to prepare us for the end of the season.”
It’s the same for UTC, which is playing in its final tournament before the Southern Conference event.
“As a team, we want to finish this out as strong as we can,” McLennan said. “We want a good finish before we head into conference.”
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP.