Freshman-laden EMCC men's golf team opens MACJC fall action with fifth-place finish at Eagle Ridge

The East Mississippi Community College men's golf team opened the fall portion of the MACJC's 2015-16 schedule with a fifth-place finish Sunday after carding a two-day score of 611 at Eagle Ridge Golf Course.

Freshman-laden EMCC men's golf team opens MACJC fall action with fifth-place finish at Eagle Ridge
September 13, 2015

RAYMOND – The East Mississippi Community College men's golf team opened the fall portion of the MACJC's 2015-16 schedule with a fifth-place finish Sunday after carding a two-day score of 611 at Eagle Ridge Golf Course. 

Coach Benji Williams' EMCC Lions followed an opening-day 302 with Sunday's 309 to finish the Hinds-hosted tournament just one stroke behind fourth-place Copiah-Lincoln (304-306—610) and 11 shots away from East Central (303-297—600).  Eight-time reigning NJCAA Region 23 Champion Mississippi Gulf Coast (295-284—579) overcame an eight-shot deficit after the opening round with a 284 Sunday to take a three-stroke team victory over runner-up Meridian (287-295—582). 

Gulf Coast's Grant Motter (73-68—141) fired a 4-under-par 68 Sunday to claim individual medalist honors with a playoff victory over Meridian's Lance Strickland (74-67—141).  The rest of the top-five individual finishers included Alex Tull of Northeast Mississippi (73-69—142), MGCCC's Phillip Hickam (73-70—143) and Grant Renegar of Meridian (71-74—145). 

EMCC's freshman-laden squad was led by Stringer High School product Rhett Walters, who finished tied for sixth (69-77—146) after owning a share of the first-round lead with Meridian's Camden Backel following Saturday's 3-under-par 69. 

Lone EMCC sophomore Daniel Schroder, of Baton Rouge, La., tied for 19th with a 152 total (74-78).  Former Choctaw County High School standout Kent Vaughn (78-79—157) and Vancleave's Trae Reeves (81-80—161) placed 28th and 36th, respectively.  Baldwyn's Cason Collins (88-75—163) rebounded with a 75 Sunday to finish in a 42nd-place tie to round out the Lions' scorecard.  Competing as an individual, fellow EMCC freshman Michael McGill, a product of Biloxi's St. Patrick Catholic High School, shot a two-day 173 (84-89). 

The East Mississippi men's golf team resumes fall action this weekend (Sept. 19-20) by competing in the MACJC Conference Preview Tournament at Shiloh Ridge in Corinth.