Hodge, Mocs Atop SoCon Leaderboard After Two Rounds

FLORENCE, S.C.—The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, led by sophomore Jonathan Hodge’s 3-under par performance, posted a team score of 8-under par 280 to take a seven stroke lead in to tomorrow’s final round of the 2007 Southern Conference Men’s Golf Championships held at The Country Club of South Carolina.

Hodge’s 69 moved him from a tie for 11th into a tie for the individual lead with 18 holes remaining. He wasn’t the only Chattanooga player in red numbers as Bryce Ledford and Derek Rende carded matching scores of 2-under par 70. Freshman Fredrik Qvicker rebounded from an opening 79 to shoot 71 and round out the scoring for the Mocs.

“The team played well today” remarked Chattanooga head coach Mark Guhne. “We were able to increase our lead from three to seven shots, but Georgia Southern is going to be tourgh tomorrow. They have been in this position before. We need to bring our “A” game tomorrow.”

Hodge is tied with Davidson’s Alex Knoll for the individual lead at 2-under par, 142. Rende’s two-day total of 144 places him in a four-way tie for fourth at level par. Senior Mitch Brock, who was tied for fourth after a 71 on Sunday, posted a 74 which is good for a tie for eighth with Ledford.

The Mocs are the only team under par with a two-day total of 3-under par 573, seven shots better than Georgia Southern. The Eagles were 4-under par on Monday, but lost ground to the Mocs.

A win tomorrow for the Mocs would be Chattanooga’s first SoCon men’s golf title since 1987. Donnie Green won the lone individual title when he claimed medalist honors in 1978.

TEAM SCORES:
1. Chattanooga 293-280=573 (-3)
T2. Georgia Southern 296-284=580 (+4)
T3. Elon 297-291=588 (+12)
T3. Wofford 295-293=588 (+12)
T5. College of Charleston 298-297=597 (+19)
T5. Western Carolina 296-299=597 (+19)
7. UNC Greensboro 300-298=598 (+22)
8. Appalachian State 309-294=603 (+27)
9. Furman 307-299=606 (+30)
10. Davidson 307-300=607 (+31)


CHATTANOOGA INDIVIDUALS
T1. Jonathan Hodge 73-69=142 (-2)
T4. Derek Rende 74-70=144 (E)
T8. Mitch Brock 71-74=145 (+1)
T8. Bryce Ledford 75-70=145 (+1)
T25. Fredrik Qvicker 79-71=150 (+6)

TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS
T1. Jonathan Hodge (Chattanooga) 73-69=142 (-2)
T1. Alex Knoll (Davidson) 72-70=142 (-2)
3. Andres Cuenca (Western Carolina) 70-73=143 (-1)
T4. Derek Rende (Chattanooga) 74-70=144 (E)
T4. Jayson Judy (Elon) 75-69=144 (E)
T4. Drew Lethem (Georgia Southern) 75-69=144 (E)
T4. Jordan Johnstun (Georgia Southern) 73-71=144 (E)