EMCC golf team ties for third-place honors at MACJC's fifth spring tournament held at MSU Golf Course
The host East Mississippi Community College men's golf team finished in a third-place tie after Monday's final round of the MACJC's fifth and final regular-season golf tournament. The two-day event was held at the Mississippi State University Golf Course.
STARKVILLE – The host East Mississippi Community College men's golf team finished in a third-place tie after Monday's final round of the MACJC's fifth and final regular-season golf tournament. The two-day event was held at the Mississippi State University Golf Course.
After sitting just three strokes out of second place following Sunday's season-best, opening-round 300, head coach Dale Peay's EMCC Lions carded a 302 on the final day to finish tied with Northwest Mississippi Community College (299-303—602) with a composite team score of 602.
Ahead of EMCC and Northwest in the final team standings, Copiah-Lincoln Community College (297-296—593) stayed even with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (288-296—584) during the final round with identical scores of 296. However, the opening-day, nine-stroke advantage held up for the five-time reigning NJCAA Region 23 golf champions.
East Central Community College (306-308—614) rounded out the top half of the 10-team field in fifth place, followed by Hinds (318-316—634), Jones (328-307—635), Northeast Mississippi (334-319—653), Holmes (327-327-654) and Itawamba (347-336—683).
Individual medalist honors went to Copiah-Lincoln's Connor Barnes, who fired a 1-under-par 70 on the final day to edge EMCC sophomore Miles Respess (73-71—144) and Jake Pritchard of Mississippi Gulf Coast (73-71—144) by a single stroke. MGCCC teammates Hayes Weathersby (72-73—145) and Brad Thornton (72-74—146) finished in fourth and fifth place, respectively, on the individual leaderboard.
Along with EMCC's Respess claiming all-tournament honors for his co-runner-up finish, fellow Lion sophomore Nick Davis finished in a five-way tie for seventh place with a two-day score of 149 (73-76). Teammates Chase Smith (78-76—154) and Caleb Westmoreland (76-79—155) followed in 21st and 22nd place, respectively, for the tournament hosts.
Rounding out East Mississippi's scorecard this week, sophomore Matt Belk shot a pair of 80s to tie for 36th. Freshman John Pittman, competing as an individual, had rounds of 82 and 81 to tie for 41st place.
The MACJC golfers will now prepare to tee off postseason play during next week's (April 14-15) MACJC State Golf Championship to be hosted by Jones County Junior College at Laurel's Dixie Golf Club.