Sophomore Steven Fox shoots 69 (-3) to pace the Mocs

ROCKY FACE, Ga. --- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's golf team opened the 2010-11 season with a two-over par 290 in the first round of the Carpet Capital Collegiate Classic at the Farm in Rocky Face, Ga., just outside Dalton.  The Mocs are in seventh place with two rounds remaining.

"I'm pleased with our play," said head coach Mark Guhne.  "Fox and Jaeger did what we expected, while the three freshmen battled.  I'm sure there were some butterflies on those first few holes, but I'm proud of the way they kept it together."

Alabama leads the event at 280 (-8), 10 shots ahead of Chattanooga.  Clemson is in second at 283 (-5), while playing partner Auburn shot 285 (-3).

Blayne Barber (Auburn) and David Dannelly (Clemson) lead individually at five under (67).  Wake Forest's Evan Beck is third with a 68 (-4), while UTC's Steven Fox (Hendersonville, Tenn.) is tied with two others for fourth at minus-three 69.

Chattanooga got off to a good start surging to six-under par after true freshman Davis Bunn's (Knoxville, Tenn.) back-to-back birdies on 13 and 14.  Fox and junior Stephan Jaeger (Munich, Germany) were especially hot at the start.

Fox recorded five of his six birdies in his opening nine holes, while Jaeger had all four of his in the first six holes.  The duo combined to shoot seven-under on their first nine (10-18) as the team turned at minus two starting on the course's backside.

The front nine was a bit stingier.  UTC shot four-over on the side with just four birdies, three by counting scores.  Redshirt freshman Chris Robb (Aberdeenshire, Scotland) parred each of the holes to pace the Mocs.

Jaeger's 71 (-1) ties him for 10th just four shots off the lead.  Bunn and Robb are tied for 38th after opening their careers with three-over par 75s.  Redshirt freshman Benni Weilguni (Langelois, Austria) is tied for 55th after an 81.

The Mocs play with Auburn and Ole Miss again on Saturday.  Bunn will lead off the first hole at 8:50 a.m., followed by Weilguni, Robb, Fox and Jaeger in 10-minute intervals.

LEADERBOARD