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CHATTANOOGA---Senior Lake Johnson got the new season off to a solid start with a 1-under par 71 leading the Chattanooga Mocs on day one of the Carpet Capital Collegiate. Johnson and his mates turned in 295 at the Farm.
 
That puts Chattanooga ninth overall, two behind Auburn (293) in sixth and one shy of the pair of Virginia and South Carolina in seventh. The quintet is one ahead of LSU in 10th and six clear of Florida, Cal, North Florida and Colorado State, all tied for 11th (301).
 
UTC started on the 10th hole. Eight birdies and an eagle over the first six holes had the squad at 4 under in the early going. The 17th hole, playing as No. 8, took a bite out as the counting cards were 5 over during the stretch. That sent the squad to the front side at 2 over.
 
That nine was stingy as the team posted just five birdies. Johnson had two of the five bookending the trip with birdies at one and nine. It was a steady day for the Chattanooga native with three birdies, 13 pars and just two bogeys.
 
He's tied for eighth with his 71. That's two ahead of sophomore A.J. Lintunen whose 73 was one better than junior Will Porter at 74. Oliver Simonsen turned in 77 with Etienne Brault's 79 serving as the drop tally.
 
Tennessee is the early leader at 280. Defending champ Georgia Tech is second at 281 with Alabama and Kennesaw State tied for third at 288. The Crimson Tide's Davis Riley is the individual leader at 68 (-4).
 
LINEUP
T8) Lake Johnson: 71 (-1)
T28) A.J. Lintunen: 73 (+1)
T36) Will Porter: 74 (+2)
T58) Oliver Simonsen: 77 (+5)
T75) Etienne Brault: 79 (+7)
 
QUOTABLE
"We played with more confidence today than I think we did at any time last season. We made a couple of execution errors along the way that we'll address before getting back out there tomorrow. Overall, it's a very solid start against a strong field." – Head Coach Mark Guhne.
 
NOTES

• 295 is the low opening round since 291 in 2014, also at the Carpet Capital…that betters the team's first 18 average in 11 prior appearances at the Farm was 296.82.
• Johnson's 71 is his best Carpet Capital card…22nd career par or better cards.
• Brault's eagle on 15th was the 10th of his career…moves into a tie for ninth with former All-American Jonathan Hodge (2006-09) in the Mocs record book.

 
LEADERS (Counting Cards)
Eagles (0): Brault 1.
Birdies (12): Porter 4.
Pars (45): Johnson 13.
Bogeys (12): Porter/Johnson 2.
Others (3): Johnson/Lintunen 0.
Par 3 (E): Lintunen -1.
Par 4 (+10): Johnson E.
Par 5 (-3): Johnson/Brault/Simonsen -2.
 
DATES/TEE TIMES (EDT) – ADMISSION IS FREE
Saturday: 8 a.m./No. 1 – Paired with Virginia and South Carolina – Brault (8:00), Simonsen (8:09), Porter (8:18), Lintunen (8:27) & Johnson (8:36).
Sunday: TBA (Click pairings link above for details)
 
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