Freshman Joey Partin leads EMCC golfers to fourth-place team finish at North Creek

SOUTHAVEN – The East Mississippi Community College men's golf team improved one place to finish fourth in the MACJC's second tournament of the season.  Hosted by Northwest Mississippi, the two-day event concluded Monday at North Creek.

Following Sunday's opening-round 301 as a team, Coach Benji Williams' EMCC Lions carded a final-round 311 to land solidly in fourth place ahead of six other teams.  Mississippi Gulf Coast (275-299—574) claimed the team title by 10 strokes over runner-up Copiah-Lincoln (284-300-584) after firing a 13-under-par 275 on Sunday.  Meridian CC finished third with a two-day score of 589 (290-299—589).  Hinds (305-316—621) and host Northwest Mississippi (309-316—625) placed fifth and sixth, respectively.

Individually, freshman Joey Partin once again led the way for EMCC with a third-place overall finish at 1-under-par 143 (71-72) to make the all-tournament team.  The Prairieville, Louisiana native out of Dutchtown High School has now been EMCC's top individual finisher during each of the team's first three tournaments of the fall.   

Individual medalist honors for the tournament went to Copiah-Lincoln's Joseph Dendy (69-72—141), who eagled the second playoff hole after tying Wyatt Adkison of Gulf Coast (68-73—141) following Monday's final round.

EMCC freshman Conner Stevens finished in a three-way tie for 20^th place with a two-day score of 155 (75-80).  Kent Vaughn (79-78—157) and Michael McGill (76-81—157) tied for 27^th place, while fellow Lion sophomore Trae Reeves (78-80—158) followed close behind in 29^th place competing as an individual.

Freshman Eli Hemphill (79-84—163) rounded out East Mississippi's scorecard with a 41^st-place finish.       

The EMCC Lions will compete this weekend (Oct. 1-2) in the third MACJC golf event of the fall.  The two-day tournament will be hosted by Hinds Community College at Eagle Ridge in Raymond.