LEADERBOARDS

(first round still in progress at time of this story - click on leaderboards for latest scores)

TOLEDO, Ohio---The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s golf team has set the pace to open the 112th NCAA Men’s Golf Championship at the famed Inverness Club.  The Mocs eight-over par 292 is the low round of the morning wave leading San Diego (293) by one shot and Ohio State (294) by two.

Junior Fredrik Qvicker was the top Chattanooga finisher with an even-par 71.  Qvicker started with birdies on 10 and 12 as the Mocs started their day on the 10th hole.  His 71 was tied for the fourth best round of the morning wave behind Northwestern’s Jonathan Bowers at 69.

Qvicker was not alone in a quick start as the Mocs got off to an eight-under par start before slowing to four under at the turn led by Jonathan Hodge at minus two.  In fact, 11 of Chattanooga’s 14 birdies on the day came on its first nine holes.  Rain struck early in the second nine holes as the Mocs hit the toughest stretch of holes on the course, Nos. 3-7.

Derek Rende carded three straight birdies on 12, 13 and 14 before a couple birdies moved him to minus one at the turn.  Rende fell back to three over through 16 holes before scoring a birdie on the ninth to finish at two-over par 73.

The Mocs got three-over par 74s from Hodge and Stephan Jaeger.  Jaeger got off to a three under start like Rende, before a run of bogeys stalled his round.  Hodge was minus two through 11 holes before the rains came.  Bogeys at three, four, five and six did not derail the steady senior.

It was a tough day for Ben Rickett who just couldn’t find any breaks.  He hit the ball well enough to have scored with his mates, but when the off hit came, it was at the wrong time as he finished with a 78 (+7).

The Mocs played with No. 24 Texas (308) and Arizona (310) and topped the Longhorns 16 shots, while finishing 18 better than the Wildcats.  The trio will be paired together tomorrow as well teeing off No. 1 at 12:30 p.m.