The seniors have been sensational in this situation.
The elder statesmen of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's golf team are undefeated at Southern Conference tournaments.
Derek Rende, Fredrik Qvicker and Tripp Harris are 3-for-3 in league championship events. J.T. Clendenin, who transferred in as a sophomore, owns two shiny rings.
"Hopefully we can keep up the good work and get it done this weekend," Rende said. "It would be awesome to go 4-for-4. But I try not to think about that. We're going to have to play good golf to get the win and go 4-for-4 for the seniors."
The underclassmen are undefeated as well. They're just not as decorated in sapphires and diamonds.
The Mocs, ranked 33rd nationally by Golfweek, will attempt to become part of SoCon golf history today through Tuesday at the Country Club of South Carolina, where the championship will be determined for the fourth straight year.
"We need to get one more for the seniors," UTC coach Mark Guhne said.
Guhne's team will attempt to be the third SoCon school to win four straight titles. Former SoCon school East Tennessee State did it three times, most recently from 1998 to 2001, and Duke won eight straight beginning in 1935.
UTC hasn't had a medalist at the SoCon championship since Donnie Green in 1978. But in the last three years, the Mocs' Qvicker, Ben Rickett and Jonathan Hodge have each tied for runner-up positions.
Current sophomore Stephan Jaeger is ranked No. 35 in the nation by GolfWeek, and he ribbed freshmen Steven Fox and Alex Ratliff for arriving late to practice Wednesday.
"We made some putts on the last couple of holes last year to beat Georgia Southern," Jaeger said. "It's our style of golf course. We do like that course a lot, so we're looking forward to it."
These Mocs are the only team ranked inside the top 35 by both GolfWeek and GolfStat. Furman is ranked in the top 60 by both, and Georgia Southern is ranked in the top 70 by both.
In light of their success in Florence S.C. the last three years, this is the Mocs' tournament to win. But even if they finish second, third or fourth, they are extremly likely to earn a bid to one of six NCAA regional tournaments based on their ranking and 107-41-1 record in competition.
Once there, they'd need to place in the top five to earn a trip to The Honors Course for a shot at the national championship.
"We've got three teams in the conference -- us, Georgia Southern and Furman -- that are going to go to regionals," Guhne said. "This year is going to be the toughest since I've been here. We've gone head-to-head with them this year. They've won some, and we've won some.
"It's going to be a tough fight down there."
Ex-Baylor girls shine
Former Baylor School teammates Sara Grantham of Mississippi and Brooke Pancake of Alabama are third and fourth individually in the SEC women's tournament at NorthRiver in Tuscaloosa at 139 and 140. Pancake had Saturday's best round, a 66, and Alabama had the best team round and moved into a tie for first at 565 with Vanderbilt.
Vandy's Marina Alex and fourth-place Georgia's Marta Silva Zamora lead with 136s. Ole Miss is eighth at 582; Tennessee is ninth at 589.