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MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.---The Chattanooga Mocs battled through a tough day at the General Hackler Championships to put themselves within striking distance of a third team win of 2023-24. The Mocs shot 297 Tuesday sitting in sixth at 7-over 583 at the Dunes Golf & Beach Club.
 
The 297 was paced by Samuel Espinosa's 70. First round co-leader John Houk had 74, while Paul Conroy and Dalton Chuba were separated by one shot with 76 and 77, respectively. Braedon Wear's 78 was the drop score.
 
The Mocs managed just three birdies over the first seven holes, all by Espinosa. That 7 over start was turned around a bit over the next nine holes. Three more Espinosa birdies joined the Houk (3), Chuba (3) and Conroy (2) with 11 birdies over that span levelled off the struggle before two late bogeys on 17 and 18 closed the tally at 9 over.
 
Houk leads the way through 36 holes. He's tied for fifth at 3-under 141. That's one better than Espinosa who is tied for eighth at 2 under. Conroy has 149 thus far with a stroke separating Wear (152) and Chuba (153).
 
Host Coastal Carolina had round of the day with 280 (-8). Only Furman was close with 288. The Chanticleers lead with 574 (-2). Louisville is second at 576 followed by ETSU (577), Furman (580), College of Charleston (581) and the Mocs as only nine strokes separates 1-6.
 
Wednesday's final round starts at 8:45 a.m., for Chattanooga. Chuba leads off No. 1 with the group paired with the Cougars and Paladins. Wear (8:54), Conroy (9:03), Espinosa (9:12) and Houk (9:21) come after with an eye on a third come-from-behind triumph. The first two victories saw the Mocs comeback from seven (Marquette) and two stroke (Cincinnati) deficits.
 
Scoring and pairings are linked above when available.
 
Three Mocs played as individuals the last two days at the Battle at Barnsley in Adairsville, Ga. Junior Garrett Engle finished as runner-up with a 1-under 215. Carson Johnson finished fourth at 220 (+4), while Ward Harris made is a trio of top 10 performers coming in seventh with 224.
 
General Hackler Collegiate
March 18-20 (Mon-Wed) | Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Dunes Golf & Beach Club | Par 72 | 7,233 yards | 54 holes (18/day)
1) Coastal Carolina: 294-280=574 (-2)
2) (48) Louisville: 286-290=576 (E)
3) (15) ETSU: 287-290=577 (+1)
4) Furman: 292-288=580 (+4)
5) College of Charleston: 288-293=581 (+5)
6) (33) Chattanooga: 286-297=583 (+7)
7) Liberty: 290-294=584 (+8)
8) San Francisco: 296-289=585 (+9)
9) (28) North Florida: 294-294=588 (+12)
10) Kent State: 300-290=590 (+14)
tie) Little Rock: 296-294=590 (+14)
12) UNCW: 288-304=592 (+16)
13) Western Carolina: 299-315=614 (+38)
14) Charleston Southern: 308-313=621 (+45)
Chattanooga Lineup
T5) John Houk: 67-74=141 (-3)
T8) Samuel Espinosa: 72-70=142 (-2)
T38) Paul Conroy: 73-76=149 (+5)
T54) Braedon Wear: 74-78=152 (+8)
T59) Dalton Chuba: 76-77=153 (+9)
 
Battle at Barnsley
2) Garrett Engle: 72-74-69=215 (-1)
4) Carson Johnson: 76-74-70=220 (+4)
7) Ward Harris: 75-78-71=224 (+8)
 
Field (Top 100 ranking)
(33) Chattanooga, (71) College of Charleston, Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, (15) ETSU, (92) Furman, (89) Kent State, (87) Liberty, (93) Little Rock, (48) Louisville, (79) UNCW, (28) North Florida, (82) San Francisco & Western Carolina
 
History
2016: T12, 301-297-292=890 | T43, Wes Gosselin, 77-73-72=222
 
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