The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s golf team shaved six strokes off its day one total in the NCAA Rancho Santa Fe Regional Tuesday, but remained in 10th place with a plus-22, 582 total after the second day of the three-day event in San Diego, California.
Garrett Engle had a solid second day of the event, shaking off a first-day 76 by shooting a one-under par 69, with two birdies on the first nine holes and a third on hole No. 14. He’s at 145 after the two days, which is tied for second-best on the Mocs with Samuel Espinosa, who shot an even-par 70. Espinosa is currently fourth in the event with seven birdies on the two days.
Former McMinn Central standout John Houk has been the most consistent player on the team through two rounds, following up a first-day 70 with a 71 on Tuesday. He sits in a tie for 14th with a two-day score of 141, while Paul Conroy and Braedon Wear each shot 78s. Conroy’s 72 on Monday gives him the fourth-highest score of the two days with a 150.
UTC had eight birdies as a group on Tuesday, but struggled with 14 bogeys and five double-bogeys.
North Florida remained in first place with a two-day score of 563, one stroke ahead of California. West Virginia was the biggest mover of the day, shooting even as a team to move from fifth to third. Oklahoma State and Oklahoma round out the top five, which is the number of teams that qualify for the NCAA championships.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com.