GREENVILLE, S.C. --- The No. 13 Chattanooga men's golf team shot 287 (-1) to claim a three-stroke lead in the first round at the Furman Intercollegiate.  The Mocs lead No. 16 South Carolina (290) by three shots and No. 23 Clemson (293) by six.

The Mocs were a cumulative -17 under-par on the par fives with four eagles, 10 birdies and one bogey.  The tournament is being played at the Furman University Golf Club.

“I am very pleased with our play today,” said Head Coach Mark Guhne.  “We played extremely well on the par fives.  This is a very difficult course to go ?low' on.”

Jonathan Hodge led the way with a three-under par 69.  Hodge, ranked 38th in the country, had four birdies with one bogey.  Going into the event, Hodge ranks eighth in the country in first-round scoring average (72.56).

J.T. Clendenin is tied for 11th after carding an even-par 72.  Ben Rickett, this week's Southern Conference Golfer of the Week, and Derek Rende both shot 73 (+1), while Fredrik Qvicker added a two-over par 74.  Eric Forsman, playing as an individual, shot 75 (+3). 

The tournament continues tomorrow with 18 holes before concluding on Sunday with a final 18.

NOTES

>This is the fourth tournament Chattanooga has led following the first round (Scenic City Invitational, VCU Shootout and Cleveland Palmetto Intercollegiate).  In the first three events, the Mocs have one win (Palmetto), one second (Scenic City) and a third-place finish (VCU).

>The Mocs are 8-0-0 this season against conference schools (Davidson, Elon, Furman, UNC Greensboro & Western Carolina), with a 366-stroke advantage in four different tournaments.  Since a third-place finish in the 2006 SoCon Championships, Chattanooga is 34-0-0 (982 shots) against conference opponents (26-0-0/616 shots in 2006-07 season).

>TOURNAMENT FIELD (Golfweek/Sagarin Ratings Index):  Appalachian State, Charleston Southern, (13) CHATTANOOGA, (23) Clemson, Davidson, East Carolina, Elon, Francis Marion, Furman, Marshall, (45) North Florida, (50) Ohio State, Old Dominion, Presbyterian, Rhode Island, Samford, (16) South Carolina, UNC Wilmington, USC Aiken, (43) Vanderbilt, (33) Virginia Tech, Western Carolina, Winthrop, Wofford