Chattanooga tied for sixth at Linger Longer Invitational
EATONTON, Ga. – The Chattanooga Mocs men’s golf team is tied for sixth after 36 holes Saturday in the Linger Longer Invitational. Chattanooga navigated Great Waters Golf Course shooting 283 and 289 for a total of 572, which was matched by Clemson and Liberty. The trio is one behind Kennesaw State in fifth at 5-under.
Two strokes separated the Mocs’ top three on Saturday. Freshman Ewan Scott opened with a 70 (-2) and came in with a level-par 72 for a 2-under-par 142. He’s tied for 18th, one ahead of Liam Johnston.
Johnston is -1 with the low round of the day for the Scenic City contingent. He posted 68 for the first 18 before closing with a 75 in the afternoon. Wes Gosselin is at even-par 144. His 72 on the second 18 was low for the squad.
Chris Robb and Davis Bunn rounded out the team scoring. Robb is at plus-2 146 with rounds of 74 and 72, while Bunn opened with a 71 (-1) and closed with a 79. All five Mocs turned in at least one par-or-better better round.
The strong field is highlighted at the top as No. 1 Alabama and No. 5 Georgia are tied for first at 556. No. 15 Oklahoma and Mercer are in third knotted at 565. The Crimson Tide’s Robby Shelton is the individual leader at minus-9 (135), one ahead of the Bulldogs’ Joey Garber (136).
Sunday’s final 18 starts at 8:30 p.m., with a shotgun start. Chattanooga is paired with Kennesaw State, Clemson and Liberty.
Furman 15th at Linger Longer Invitational
EATONTON, Ga. – Sophomore Preston Cole (+9) carded an opening-round 80 then fired a 73 in the day's second round to lead Furman on Saturday in the Linger Longer Invitational at the par-72, 7,073-yard Great Waters Golf Club at Reynolds Plantation.
Cole, who enters Sunday's final round tied for 66th place, birdied two holes in the opening round then birdied three holes in the afternoon. Second-ranked Robby Shelton of Alabama, who carded a 69 in the first round and a 66 in Saturday's second round, is in first place heading into Sunday's final round.
Paladin rookie Bryce Howell (+12) notched a 77 in the first round and a 79 in Saturday's second round after birdying two holes in each round to finish the day tied for 76th with sophomore Wehman Hopke (+12), who shot an 81 in round one then birdied No. 4 for a 75 in round two.
Sophomore Preston Heyward (+15) registered an eagle on the par-5 No. 6 in the day's opening round then birdied three holes in round two, carding an 81 in the morning and a 78 in the afternoon to tie for 80th. Senior Greg Carrier (+23) shot three birdies on the day to land in 83rd place entering the final round of play.
No. 5 Georgia (-20) and No. 1 Alabama (-20) are tied for first heading into Sunday's final round, nine strokes ahead of No. 33 Mercer (-11). No. 15 Oklahoma (-10) and No. 37 Kennesaw State (-5) round out the top five. Furman is in 15th at 624 (319-305).
The tournament will conclude with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start on Sunday.