One stroke. That was the difference for the Chattanooga Mocs this day at the Southern Conference Golf Championship at National Golf Club. The Mocs and Georgia Southern dueled to the final hole with the Eagles claiming the one-shot win.
It all came down to the 18th hole.
Senior Chris Robb (Aberdeenshire, Scotland) stood over his birdie effort from 12-15 feet. He calmly rolled the ball across the lush green grass and it lipped out for the agonizing runner-up finish.
“Very proud of Chris Robb,” Head Coach Mark Guhne stated. It’s really good to see him finish his last conference tournament the way he did. It’s really special. He did a phenomenal job today.
“You’ve got to give credit to Georgia Southern,” he continued. “It’s been a great rivalry…we’ve been at each other every year, and I hate to see them leave the league.
“It came down to the very last putt which is what is supposed to happen.”
Robb was an absolute star in the event. He chased down 13th-ranked J.T. Poston of Western Carolina. Poston started the day with an nine-stroke advantage on the Mocs’ senior. He bogeyed 17 after Robb’s seventh birdie of the day. Robb’s 25-foot effort rolled right into the center of the cup to get him within two of Poston.
The duo drove down the center of the fairway on 18 with Poston ending up just off the green to the right on approach, while Robb hit his to the back center of the green to set up the dramatics. Poston parred the final hole for the two-stroke victory.
Robb set a new record with his 65 today. It’s the lowest score by a Moc in the event and is the first 65 since ETSU’s Chris Wisler in 2001. He played his final 38 holes bogey free. His eight-under 208 is one shot off his career-best total of 207 (-9) which he fired while winning the 2010 Springhill Suites and 2012 Bridgestone Golf Collegiates.
Ewan Scott (St. Andrews, Scotland) was second on Chattanooga’s squad with a one-over par 73 today. Davis Bunn (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Liam Johnston (Dumfries, Scotland) added 76 and 79, respectively, to account for the five-over par 293. Wes Gosselin (Knoxville) had the drop number at 81.
GSU and Chattanooga were tied at the hip over the final 18. Playing with 36-hole leader Western Carolina, the duo moved into the front of the pack quickly. The Mocs made the turn at minus two for the day, plus three for the tourney. The Eagles stayed close a shot behind, while Western dropped to third.
But it was not to be. GSU was able to hold off the Mocs in the end. Both teams shot 293 with the Eagles ending up at 873 and Chattanooga 874. UNCG was third at 877, while the Catamounts ended up fourth at 878.
Chattanooga opened the tournament at plus eight through the first seven holes. It played just two over the rest of the way.
“We’ve done this all year. We’ve dug ourselves holes and keep fighting back and fighting back. I’ve got to say there is no quit in my guys…they keep coming back.”
The Mocs now await their fate on the NCAA bubble. The selection show is 10 a.m., on Monday, May 5, on the Golf Channel.
SoCon Player of the Year
J.T. Poston, Western Carolina
SoCon Freshman of the Year
Carter Jenkins, UNCG
SoCon Coach of the Year
Larry Mays, Georgia Southern
All-Southern Conference
Richard Fountain, Davidson
Will Evans, Georgia Southern
Charlie Martin, Georgia Southern
Scott Wolfes, Georgia Southern
Taylor Coalson, UNCG
Roy Dixon, UNCG
Carter Jenkins, UNCG
Liam Johnston, Chattanooga
Chris Robb, Chattanooga
J.T. Poston, Western Carolina
All-Freshman
Bryce Howell, Furman
Carter Jenkins, UNCG
Wes Gosselin, Chattanooga
Ewan Scott, Chattanooga
Andrew Novak, Wofford