UTC Moves into Lead at SoCon Golf Championship

DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. – Chattanooga senior Steven Fox shot a 1-under 71 Monday to move atop the individual leaderboard, while the Mocs shot 2-over 290 as a team to assume the top spot at the 2013 Southern Conference Men’s Golf Championship at the Daniel Island Club’s Ralston Creek Course.

Fox, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion who played in the Masters last week, entered the day one stroke back of Davidson’s Todd Eckstein, and the duo, playing in the final threesome of the day, went toe-to-toe for much of the afternoon. After both of them cruised through the front nine – Fox at 3-under and Eckstein at 2-under – Fox played the back nine at 2-over and Eckstein played it at 4-over to put some distance between the two.

Fox ended the day at 1-under 143 for the tournament, while Eckstein finished at 1-over 145, two shots back.

College of Charleston freshman Josh Lorenzetti had the low round of the day, a 3-under 69, to vault from 11th place and into a tie for second with Eckstein.

As a team, the Mocs have four individuals in the top 10, with Davis Bunn (77-72=149) tied for eighth at 5-over and Chris Robb (74-76=150) tied for 10th at 6-over. Chattanooga is at 12-over 588 (298-290) entering Tuesday’s final round.

Davidson, which entered play Monday with a one-shot lead over the Mocs, now trails Chattanooga by three strokes despite having three individuals of its own in the top 10. The Wildcats are at 15-over 591 (297-294).

Richard Fountain shot an even-par 72 Monday to move into a tie for fourth at 3-over 147, while John Skeadas jumped seven spots into a tie for sixth with a 1-under 71 for a two-day total of 148.

After wind gusts around 25 mph for much of Sunday, the calmer weather Monday was reflected in the scores, as each team dropped at least three strokes from its first round. Three teams shaved at least 20 strokes off their opening rounds, with Wofford improving 27 strokes on day two of the tournament.

Chattanooga and Davidson are followed by College of Charleston in third place at 600 (309-291), nine shots back of the Wildcats and 12 in arrears of the Mocs.

Appalachian State follows in fourth (305-298=603), with Elon in fifth (312-295=607) and Georgia Southern in sixth (315-293=608). Samford follows in seventh at 612 (314-298) and UNCG is in eighth at 613 (315-298).

Spartan freshman Taylor Coalson, who entered play Monday tied for second with Fox, turned in a 3-over 75 to sit in a tie for fourth at 147 after 36 holes.

Western Carolina is ninth in the team standings (324-304=628), followed by Furman (320-309=629) and Wofford (332-305=637).

Tuesday’s final round will see teams teeing off on Nos. 1 and 10. The first tee times are off No. 1 at 9 a.m., while the first to go off No. 10 will be at 9:20. Leaders Chattanooga, Davidson and College of Charleston will go off No. 1 at 9:50 a.m.

The tournament winner will earn the SoCon’s automatic bid to the NCAA regionals, as will the top individual.

Live stats can be found at www.golfstatresults.com and will be updated every three holes.


2013 Southern Conference Men’s Golf Championship
Daniel Island Club, Ralston Creek Course
Daniel Island, S.C.

Top 10 individuals    Rd 1    Rd 2    Total
1.    Steven Fox, Chattanooga    72    71    143
T2.    Josh Lorenzetti, College of Charleston    76    69    145
T2.    Todd Eckstein, Davidson    71    74    145
T4.    Taylor Coalson, UNCG    72    75    147
T4.    Richard Fountain, Davidson    75    72    147
T6.    John Skeadas, Davidson    77    71    148
T6.    Casey Komline, Appalachian State    73    75    148
T8.    Davis Bunn, Chattanooga    77    72    149
T8.    Josh Nichols, Appalachian State    77    72    149
T10.    Alex Ellis, College of Charleston    79    71    150
T10.    Casey O'Toole, Samford    78    72    150
T10.    Jack Adkins, Elon    77    73    150
T10.    Zach Hughes, Samford    75    75    150
T10.    Chris Robb, Chattanooga    74    76    150

Team standings    Rd 1    Rd 2    Total
1.    Chattanooga    298    290    588
2.    Davidson    297    294    591
3.    College of Charleston    309    291    600
4.    Appalachian State    305    298    603
5.    Elon    312    295    607
6.    Georgia Southern    315    293    608
7.    Samford    314    298    612
8.    UNCG    315    298    613
9.    Western Carolina    324    304    628
10.    Furman    320    309    629
11.    Wofford    332    305    637