The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga rose to No. 1 in the nation in the GolfStat rankings early in the fall season. The Mocs fell to No. 42 at the end.
They will begin their spring season and potential ascent back to the top 10 -- perhaps with a spot in the NCAA championship tournament at The Honors Course -- this weekend in the Gator Invitational at the University of Florida Golf Club.
"Our goal is to win the conference tournament at the end of the year, get into (NCAA) regional and make it to The Honors Course and play well there," said Derek Rende, one of three seniors in the lineup this weekend. "Right now, we're setting short-term goals and trying to figure out what we need to do to reach those goals."
The Mocs' up-and-down fall semester included second-place finishes at the Carpet Capital Collegiate and the Brickyard Collegiate. They tied for 14th out of 15 at the PING/GolfWeek Invitational and seventh in the Scenic City Invitational, their own tournament on their home course.
"I think we're ready to prove that we are the team that played in the Carpet Capital and the Brickyard," fifth-year head coach Mark Guhne said. "But everything is a process working to the SoCon and from then on. I think we did a pretty good job of that last year, when we seemed to peak at the end."
The Mocs finished the fall season Nov. 3 with an eighth-place finish at the Hummingbird Intercollegiate in Sapphire, N.C., and headed into winter-season training with a desire to improve.
The wet and cold winter limited their practice opportunities and what they were able to work on at Black Creek, Council Fire, other area courses and the practice facility.
UTC Golf Lineup1. Derek Rende, senior: A three-time All-SoCon selection with one college tournament win and 12 top-10s.2. Fredrik Qvicker, senior: An All-SoCon selection who shot a 10-under 62 in one tournament last fall.3. Stephan Jaeger, sophomore: The 2009 SoCon freshman of the year is ranked No. 32 in the country.4. Steven Fox, freshman: SoCon freshman of the year candidate who tied for 12th at the Brickyard Collegiate.5. J.T. Clendenin, senior: Back in the lineup with three career top-10 finishes and career-low round of 66.
"It's been pretty tough to practice, but you have to go through it and see what you can get out of it each day," said sophomore Stephan Jaeger, the 2009 SoCon freshman of the year. "For a couple hours, you can practice if it's 25 or 30 degrees. It takes quite a bit to keep us out all day."
The spring schedule includes five tournaments across the Southeast, leading up to the SoCon tournament April 18-20 at the Country Club of South Carolina.
"I think we have a great group of guys who have proven they can get it done," Guhne said. "(Steven) Fox is coming along, J.T. (Clendenin) is doing a good job and has settled in. Derek and Freddy (Qvicker) and Jaeger have been solid for us for a long time.
"There's a chance they could be our five for a while."