Attached Photo (Credit: GoMocs.com): Chattanooga senior Chris Robb begins his NCAA Championship journey Friday at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kan.
NOTES | INFO SHEET | LIVE SCORING | TOURNAMENT CENTRAL | NCAA
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.---Chattanooga Mocs senior golfer Chris Robb (Aberdeenshire, Scotland) begins play at the NCAA Championship Friday, May 23. This year's event is at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kan.
Robb tees off at 10 a.m., Eastern time on Friday, and 3:20 p.m., Saturday. His total through three rounds dictates his Sunday tee time of either 3 or 3:10 p.m. The top 40 and ties through 54 holes play a final 18 Monday for the national crown. The Golf Channel broadcasts a portion of the final round with coverage starting at 5 p.m.
He is the first Moc since Neil Connolly in 1993 to earn an individual berth in the NCAA Championship.
“It's really cool to be a part of that history,” Robb stated. “Obviously I want to go to nationals, but it is really disappointing not going with the team. It's a special time sharing with your teammates. Still, it is a great experience at nationals.”
Robb is making his second appearance at the NCAA Championship. He was a vital cog in the 2012 team that won the Bowling Green Regional and ended up 18th at Riviera Country Club.
“Nationals is a different class of tournament. When we were there (in 2012), it just felt like we were playing a PGA Tour event. Everyone treated you so well, like every tournament, but nationals just has that special feel. You've gone as far you can go to get there. Everything is prepared amazingly well.
“You know it's the top of college golf which is great.”
The Scot earned his place in Chattanooga golf history topping Niklas Lindstrom of Liberty in a playoff at the NCAA Eugene Regional. The top individual not on one of the five teams that advanced to Hutchinson also got a berth. The duo was knotted at +2, 212, after 54 holes. It took just one extra hole to decide it as Robb dropped a 15-foot par effort before Lindstrom's eight-footer lipped out.
Robb finished tied for third at Eugene Country Club which is just the fourth top five in NCAA postseason play in school history. Connolly tied for fifth in 1993, while 2012 saw a win for Stephan Jaeger (2009-12) and tie for third from Steven Fox (2010-13).
Prairie Dunes Country Club was designed by Perry and Press Maxwell. Perry Maxwell designed Southern Hills Country Club, Colonial Country Club and had a hand in the redesign in his time of Pine Valley and Augusta National.
Prairie Dunes is a masterpiece. It ranks No. 13 in Golfweek's list of best classic courses and in No. 25 in Golf Digest's America's 100 Great Golf Courses. The club has hosted several USGA events including the U.S. Women's Open (2002), Senior Open (2006), Women's Amateur (1964, 1980, 1991), Mid-Amateur (1988), Senior Amateur (1995) and Curtis Cup (1986). It ranges 6,941 yards at par 70 for the tournament.
Much to the delight of Robb, it is a links course reminiscent of Scottish seaside layouts.
“We'll see when we get there how 'linksy' it is,” smiled Robb. “I'm excited about trying out an American-style links course. I'm looking forward to seeing it. I've heard a lot about this course. It's very, very tough…very good.”
Robb is a two-time collegiate winner. He captured the 2010 Springhill Suites Collegiate in just his second event. He later won the 2012 Bridgestone Collegiate. He is playing his best golf of the season at just the right time.
Chris was runner-up at the Southern Conference Championship, his second SoCon second-place of his career. He closed with 69 and a career-best 65 before opening with a 67 at the difficult Eugene Country Club tract. The three straight rounds in the 60's is a first at Chattanooga since Derek Rende (2007-10) at the 2009 SunTrust Gator Invitational.
He has not scored higher than a bogey in 101 holes and had a streak of 43 bogey-less snapped in Eugene. Robb is -9 over his last 144 holes (70.0 stroke average) with four rounds in the 60's.
The live scoring link is above along with notes on Robb and the tournament central page from Wichita State, the host school. Follow @GoMocsMGLF on Twitter for updates and notes during the tournament.
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