EMCC Lions begin spring golf slate with ninth-place team finish at Faulkner State Invitational

FAIRHOPE, Ala. – East Mississippi Community College opened its spring golf slate this past weekend by collecting ninth-place team honors in the Faulkner State Invitational played at Rock Creek Golf Club.

Coach Benji Williams' EMCC Lions improved a dozen strokes from Saturday's opening round by carding a 307 on Sunday.  The team's two-day total of 626 was just 11 strokes behind second-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast (307-308—615).  Fellow MACJC foes Copiah-Lincoln (301-298—599) and Meridian (302-301—603) finished third and fourth, respectively, in the 13-team field.

Eastern Florida State (296-278—574) breezed to the 24-stroke victory over runner-up Spring Hill College (302-296—598).  EFSC's Brad Bawden (72-69—141) claimed individual medalist honors with a 2-shot win over teammate Mathieu Echlard and Spring Hill's David Kirkman.       

Freshman Joey Partin again led EMCC by tying for 10^th place individually with a composite score of 150.  The Prairieville, Louisiana native entered Sunday's final round just two shots off the lead after firing an opening-round 73.

Lion sophomores Michael McGill and Kent Vaughn both shot 78 on Sunday to complete the weekend tied for 36^th and 39^th, respectively, with two-day totals of 158 and 159.  Freshman Conner Stevens cut 12 strokes off his opening round with a 74 on Sunday to tie for 42^nd place at 160.

Rounding out EMCC's spring-opening scorecard was freshman Eli Hemphill in 63^rd place (85-88—173).

The East Mississippi men's golf team returns to MACJC action March 6-7 at Northwood Country Club in Meridian.  Hosted by Meridian Community College, the upcoming two-day tournament will mark the fifth MACJC golf event of the 2016-17 season and first of the spring slate.