Jonathan Hodge runner-up at Web.com Tour's News Sentinel Open

Jonathan Hodge
Jonathan Hodge

In Knoxville, three golfers with Chattanooga-area ties finished in the top seven at the Web.com Tour's News Sentinel Open, led by University of Tennessee at Chattanooga alumnus Jonathan Hodge in second.

Hodge closed with a 5-under 66 and finished at 17-under 267, a stroke behind Talor Gooch, who earned $99,000 for his first tour victory and is now third in 2017 earnings. Hodge - who won $59,400 and is now 34th on the list, with the top 25 moving on to the PGA Tour next season - and Gooch were among those tied for fourth place after the third round at Fox Den Country Club.

On Sunday, Hodge made birdie on four of his first five holes and added two more on Nos. 8 and 10, but a bogey on No. 13 proved costly.

Baylor School graduate Keith Mitchell also made seven birdies but had three bogeys as he closed with a 67 and tied third-round leader Ken Looper for third at 16 under. Each won $31,900, and Mitchell is now 36th on the money list.

Chattanooga's Stephan Jaeger, who played at both Baylor and UTC, dropped from second after 54 holes to tie for seventh at 14 under. After a double bogey on No. 4, he avoided any trouble until a bogey on the 17th dropped him further back. He added $16,569 to push his 2017 earnings to $278,364, which is second on tour.

Jaeger has already won twice this season and will be eligible for the PGA Tour next season.

Former Dalton High School golfer Blake Adams (70) tied for 34th at 8 under.

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