EMCC Lions earn fourth-place team finish at MACJC's fourth spring golf event

OLIVE BRANCH – The East Mississippi Community College men's golf team improved seven strokes and jumped two places to finish fourth at this week's Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) golf tournament held jointly at North Creek in Southaven and Wedgewood in Olive Branch.             

After sitting sixth following Monday's 309 team score at North Creek, the EMCC Lions improved seven strokes during Tuesday's final round at Wedgewood to finish fourth (309-302—611) and just a single stroke behind third-place Copiah Lincoln (302-308—610).  Meridian Community College (288-291—579) claimed its third team title of the MACJC's spring golf slate with an 11-stroke victory over six-time reigning NJCAA Region 23 champion Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (293-297—590).

Individually, East Mississippi was led by freshman Hunter Harmon, a Calhoun Academy product, who improved four strokes between rounds to finish in an 11^th-place tie with a two-day total of 150 (77-73).  Fellow Lion freshman Steven Eilders, of Ridgeland, followed one shot behind (74-77—151) to tie for 15^th place.

Also for EMCC, freshman Chase Chitwood (80-76—156), from Jessieville, Ark., and sophomore John Pittman (84-76—160), of Olive Branch, each carded 76s during Tuesday's final round to finish in 23^rd and 34^th place, respectively.  Sophomore Chase Smith, out of Northeast Jones High School, completed the Lions' scorecard with a 39^th-place finish (78-84—162).  Competing as an individual, EMCC freshman Trent Humber, of Caledonia, tied for 37^th place with rounds of 79 and 82 (161).

Meridian's Connor Cavin followed an opening-round, 4-under par 68 with an even-par 72 on Tuesday to claim individual medalist honors over runner-up Hayes Weathersby (72-71—143) of Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Head coach Dale Peay's EMCC Lions will host the spring's fifth MACJC golf event, April 14-15, at Lion Hills in Columbus.