EMCC's Steven Eilders sits among top third halfway through NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship

East Mississippi Community College sophomore Steven Eilders added an even-par 72 during Wednesday's second round to sit among the top third of the player standings midway through this week's NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship being played at Goose Pond Colony.

EMCC's Steven Eilders sits among top third halfway through NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship
May 20, 2015

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. – East Mississippi Community College sophomore Steven Eilders added an even-par 72 during Wednesday's second round to sit among the top third of the player standings midway through this week's NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship being played at Goose Pond Colony.

On the heels of Tuesday's opening-round, 1-over-par 73, Eilders rebounded from a double bogey on the par-4 first hole Wednesday to shoot 2-under the rest of the day, including back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th holes.  An MACJC All-State Second Team recipient and NJCAA All-Region 23 qualifier this season, Eilders' two-day 145 total is currently tied for 40th place individually along with five other golfers.

Atop the individual leaderboard halfway through the national tournament is Phillip Hickam of eight-time reigning NJCAA Region 23 golf champion and current tournament team runner-up Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College with a 5-under-par 67 Wednesday to go along with his opening-round 66 for a two-day score of 11-under-par 133.  MGCCC teammate Grant Motter (69-67—136) and Chandler White (66-70—136) of Surry (N.C.) Community College jointly follow three strokes behind in second place with 8-under-par totals.  Ben Harden (69-68—137) and Connor Klein (66-71—137) from current tournament team leader South Mountain (Ariz.) Community College are presently tied for fourth at the midway point of the four-day event.

Separated by seven strokes, South Mountain (277-276—553) and Mississippi Gulf Coast (283-277—560) are presently perched atop the team standings at 23-under and 16-under, respectively.  Also under par halfway through this week's NJCAA Championship are Tyler (Texas) JC (282-284—566), Darton (Ga.) State College (281-288—569) and Kansas City Kansas CC (287-287—574).

Also representing the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) as individual qualifiers, Jacob Ross of Copiah-Lincoln (68-72—140) and Northeast Mississippi's Alex Tull (68-73—141) enter the second portion of the tournament tied for ninth and 18th place, respectively.  In addition from Meridian Community College, Connor Cavin (74-72—146) and Austin Terrell (74-73—147) are tied for 46th and 50th place, respectively.

Featuring 18 teams and 119 players, NJCAA golf competition continues Thursday and Friday on the 7,145-yard, par-72 Lake Course layout.  Daily golf results will be available online throughout the week at http://www.mccaa.org/f/16/3/Golf/2015_Golf_Nationals.php.