Chattanooga Wins Men's Golf Championship

DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. – Chattanooga held off a late Davidson charge Tuesday to win its second straight Southern Conference Men’s Golf Championship, edging the Wildcats by two strokes at the Daniel Island Club’s Ralston Creek Course. College of Charleston freshman Josh Lorenzetti shot a 2-under 70 to claim medalist honors as both the team and individual titles came down to the last hole.

With the win, Chattanooga earned the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA regionals, while Lorenzetti earned an individual bid.

Chattanooga led Davidson by eight strokes through 12 holes of the final round, but Davidson, playing with the Mocs and College of Charleston, would make a charge to get within two strokes heading to the 18th tee.

In the penultimate group, Chattanooga’s Davis Bunn bogeyed the par-5 18th, while Davidson’s Richard Fountain birdied it for a two-stroke swing to get the Wildcats within two shots. In the final group, UTC’s Steven Fox and the Wildcats’ Todd Eckstein both bogeyed the hole, clinching the title for the Mocs.

Lorenzetti, playing in the final grouping with Fox and Eckstein, took a one-stroke lead into the final hole. The rookie from Columbia, S.C., made par on the 18th to lock up his individual title. The three were tied for the lead heading into the 17th, where Lorenzetti birdied the par-4 hole to pull ahead.

Lorenzetti was the only player in the field to finish under par for the tournament, as he wrapped up with a three-day total of 1-under 215. After opening with a 4-over 76, he shot a 3-under 69 Monday before closing with a 2-under round.

Lorenzetti became the second freshman winner in the last three years, joining Davidson’s Fountain, who won the event in 2011.

UNCG freshman Taylor Coalson shot a 2-under 70 Tuesday to share low honors with Lorenzetti and Western Carolina’s J.T. Poston. Coalson (72-75-70=217) finished in a three-way tie for second place with Fox (72-71-74=217) and Eckstein (71-74-72=217), while Fountain finished fifth at 3-over 219 (75-72-72).

Joining Fox in the top 10 for Chattanooga were Bunn, who finished sixth at 220 (77-72-71), and Chris Robb, who tied for 10th at 224 (74-76-74). As a team, UTC shot 298-290-296=884. Davidson finished at 297-294-295=886.

The Mocs’ title was their fifth in seven seasons.

Chattanooga and Davidson are followed by College of Charleston in third place at 309-291-298=898. Appalachian State finished fourth at 305-298-303=906, followed by Georgia Southern (315-293-301=909) and UNCG (315-298-296=909) tying for fifth. Samford (314-298-302=914) and Elon (312-295-307=914) tied for seventh, with Furman (320-309-292=921), Western Carolina (324-304-304=932) and Wofford (332-305-300=937) rounding out the field.

Georgia Southern’s Scott Wolfes was voted the league’s player of the year by the 11 SoCon coaches, while Lorenzetti and Coalson shared freshman of the year honors. Elon’s Bill Morningstar, who announced his retirement earlier this season, was named the coach of the year.

Casey Komline (Appalachian State), Alex Ellis (College of Charleston), Sam Echikson (Davidson), Drew Aimone (Samford), Casey O’Toole (Samford), Chris Robb (Chattanooga) and J.T. Poston (Western Carolina) joined Fountain, Wolfes and Fox on the all-conference team.

Lorenzetti and Coalson were joined on the all-freshman team by Appalachian State’s Caleb Keck and Lee Mitchell and UNCG’s Luke Haithcock.


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

Top 10 individuals    Rd 1    Rd 2    Rd 3    Total
1.    Josh Lorenzetti, College of Charleston    76    69    70    215
T2.    Todd Eckstein, Davidson    71    74    72    217
T2.    Steven Fox, Chattanooga    72    71    74    217
T2.    Taylor Coalson, UNCG    72    75    70    217
5.    Richard Fountain, Davidson    75    72    72    219
6.    Davis Bunn, Chattanooga    77    72    71    220
7.    Casey Komline, Appalachian State    73    75    74    222
T8.    Josh Nichols, Appalachian State    77    72    74    223
T8.    Alex Ellis, College of Charleston    79    71    73    223
T10.    Chris Robb, Chattanooga    74    76    74    224
T10.    J.T. Poston, Western Carolina    80    74    70    224

Team standings    Rd 1    Rd 2    Rd 3    Total
1.    Chattanooga    298    290    296    884
2.    Davidson College    297    294    295    886
3.    College of Charleston    309    291    298    898
4.    Appalachian State    305    298    303    906
T5.    Georgia Southern    315    293    301    909
T5.    UNCG    315    298    296    909
T7.    Samford    314    298    302    914
T7.    Elon    312    295    307    914
9.    Furman    320    309    292    921
10.    Western Carolina    324    304    304    932
11.    Wofford College    332    305    300    937

All-conference team
Casey Komline, Appalachian State
Alex Ellis, College of Charleston
Sam Echikson, Davidson
Richard Fountain, Davidson
Scott Wolfes, Georgia Southern
Drew Aimone, Samford
Casey O’Toole, Samford
Steven Fox, Chattanooga
Chris Robb, Chattanooga
J.T. Poston, Western Carolina

All-freshman team
Caleb Keck, Appalachian State
Lee Mitchell, Appalachian State
Josh Lorenzetti, College of Charleston
Taylor Coalson, UNCG
Luke Haithcock, UNCG

Player of the Year
Scott Wolfes, Georgia Southern

Freshman of the Year
Josh Lorenzetti, College of Charleston
Taylor Coalson, UNCG

Coach of the Year
Bill Morningstar, Elon