EMCC’s Caleb Westmoreland claims runner-up golf honors; Lions place fourth at Hinds-hosted event

RAYMOND – Sophomore Caleb Westmoreland's runner-up individual finish highlighted East Mississippi Community College's fourth-place team showing at this past weekend's MACJC golf tournament played at Eagle Ridge Golf Club on the Hinds Community College campus.

Westmoreland, a transfer from Delta State University, tied Mississippi Gulf Coast's Hayes Weathersby for Sunday's low round with an even-par 72 en route to earning all-tournament honors for the second straight event.  The Heritage Academy product shot a opening-round 77 on Saturday to finish the two-day event two strokes behind individual medalist Corbin May (71-76—147) from Copiah-Lincoln Community College.  During his EMCC spring debut last month, Westmoreland placed third at the Mississippi Gulf Coast-hosted event held at Diamondhead Pine.    

As a team, head coach Dale Peay's EMCC Lions (320-317—637) improved by three strokes with a second-round 317 but fell just two shots shy of third-place East Central (314-321—635) in the final team standings.  Mississippi Gulf Coast (321-304—625), five-time reigning NJCAA Region 23 golf champions, made up eight strokes on Sunday to take a five-shot victory (625-630) over first-round leader Co-Lin (313-317—630).   

EMCC placed two other golfers among the top 15 individually, as sophomores Matt Belk (79-81—160) and Nick Davis (81-80—161) tied for 11^th and 14^th place, respectively.  Freshman Chase Smith (83-80—163) shaved three strokes off his first-round score to finish in a three-way tie for 19^th place.  Sophomore Miles Respess (83-84—167) placed 32^nd, while freshman John Pittman rounded out the Lions' scorecard with a 194 (92-102).

The third tournament of the MACJC's spring golf schedule will take place March 17-18 at Wolf Hollow Golf Club in Wesson with Copiah-Lincoln Community College serving as the host school.