Rende, Mocs Claim Titles at USA Spring Golf Classic
MOBILE, Ala.--Freshman Derek Rende carded a final-round 2-under par 70 and cruised to a three shot individual victory while leading Chattanooga to a program-record third team title of the season at the USA Spring Golf Classic at Heron Lake Country Club.
The Mocs were 6-under par as a team in the final round, led by Bryce Ledford’s 67. Ledford’s 5-under par round moved him from a 23rd-place tie after two rounds into a tie for eighth place at 3-under par. Teammate Jonathan Hodge also finished in the four-man logjam at 3-under after a final-round 71.
Rende’s win is the second for a UTC freshman in school history and the first since Per Oloffson claimed medalist honors at the 2000 Louisiana Tech Invitational. Rende finished below par for the first time in his short career and did so in grand fashion, finishing the 54-hole event at 12-under par and winning by three strokes. Rende's second-round 63 was the lowest round in school history as well as a Heron Lakes course record.
The team title is the third of the season for the Mocs, a program record. UTC also took home the team crown at the Rio Pinar Intercollegiate and the Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate.
The Mocs, currently ranked No. 48 by Golfstat and No. 49 by Golfweek, were 12 strokes better than No. 39 Southeastern Louisiana and 16 better than No. 19 Louisville.
Team Results
1. Chattanooga 288-277-282=847 (-17)
T2. Southeastern Louisiana 282-290-287=859 (-5)
T2. South Alabama 286-292-281=859 (-5)
4. Louisville 294-285-284=863 (-1)
5. West Florida 284-301-279=864 (E)
6. Memphis 291-293-281=865 (+1)
7. Virginia Commonwealth 292-301-282=875 (+11)
8. Jacksonville State 294-292-293=879 (+15)
9. South Florida 292-305-292=889 (+25)
10. Mississippi State 297-301-293=891 (+27)
11. Southern Mississippi 298-299-307=904 (+40)
12. Mercer 297-310-199=906 (+42)
Chattanooga Individuals
1. Derek Rende 71-63-70=204 (-12)
T8. Jonathan Hodge 72-70-71=213 (-3)
T8. Bryce Ledford 75-71-67=213 (-3)
T30. Fredrik Qvicker 72-73-76=221 (+5)
T32. Mitch Brock 73-75-74=222 (+6)
*T32. Ben Rickett 74-71-77=222 (+6)
*competing as an individual
Top-5 Individuals
1. Derek Rende (Chattanooga) 71-63-70=204 (-12)
2. Ian Rochester (Memphis) 69-69-69=207 (-9)
T3. M. Etienne Bussieres (South Alabama) 69-71-68=208 (-8)
T3. Rafael Campos (Virginia Commonwealth) 71-71-66=208 (-8)
T5. Derek Fathauer (Louisville) 73-66-70=209 (-7)
T5. Federico Damus (W. Florida) 66-76-67=209 (-7)
CofC Men’s Golf Finishes 12th at Hootie at Bulls Bay
The College of Charleston men’s golf team shot a 289 in the third round to total 875 and finish 12th at Hootie at Bulls Bay held this week at the Bulls Bay Golf Course in Awendaw, S.C. Wake Forest won the tournament with an 840, beating out Baylor in a play-off.
Augusta State’s Wallace Booth won individual medalist honors, shooting a 205 in three rounds, including a 65 today.
Scott Glaze led the Cougars, tying for 26th with a 215. Scott Larkin tied for 42nd along with Ben Dangerfield, both shooting a 220. Harrison Moore tied for 55th with a 223 and Dennis McCollum tied for 66th with a 227.
The Cougars are next in action April 2nd as they take part in the Aldila NVS Tournament hosted by Middle Tennessee State.
Team Results
T1 Wake Forest 283-279-278=840
T1 Baylor 283-280-277=840
3 Florida State 274-289-282=845
4 UCF 270-288-288=846
5 Augusta State 286-292-277=855
6 Duke 288-291-281=860
T7 North Carolina 287-293-282=862
T7 Coastal Carolina 285-290-287=862
9 South Carolina 289-294-283=866
10 Louisiana State 288-288-294=870
11 N.C. State 297-293-281=871
12 Charleston 291-295-289=875
13 Kentucky 301-285-290=876
14 Vanderbilt 292-300-293=885
15 Arkansas 307-293-294=894
Cougar Results
T26 Scott Glaze 74-72-69=215
T42 Scott Larkin 72-76-72=220
T42 Ben Dangerfield 71-74-75=220
T55 Harrison Moore 74-76-73=223
T66 Dennis McCollum 79-73-75=227