EMCC’s Joey Partin earns All-America honors at NJCAA Division II Golf Championship

MESA, Arizona – East Mississippi Community College's Joey Partin earned All-America second-team honors by finishing tied for 14^th place with a four-day total of 295 at this week's NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship held at Longbow Golf Club.

After posting an opening-round 78 on Tuesday, Partin improved his score by four strokes each of the next two days before finishing the tournament with a 2-over-par 73 during Friday's final round.  The EMCC freshman steadily improved his placing throughout the week from 72^nd following the first day to a three-way tie for 14^th place to close out the tournament.

"This week's course was very challenging and I was very happy I was able to come back after a bad first round," Partin said.  "The week was fun with great times and I got to meet some great people."

Following Wednesday's 74, Partin's best two rounds of the tournament came during the final two days of the competition.  On Thursday, he posted six birdies on the way to firing a 1-under-par 70 on the 7,050-yard layout.  The next day during Round 4, the Prairieville, La., native recorded 14 pars en route to securing All-America laurels by finishing among the Top 26 individuals (plus ties).

With four Top 5 finishes and two other Top 10 showings on the year, including third place in the MACJC State Championship and ninth place in the NJCAA District D Championship, Partin completed his freshman season with a 74.38 composite stroke average.  He also became the second EMCC All-America golfer in the past five years by joining Miles Respess, who also garnered second-team honors with a 17^th-place finish during the 2013 NJCAA Division II Championship.  The Lions have now had seven golfers over the last nine years to compete in the national tournament.

"I have enjoyed this year so much.  I had a great group of young men who worked really hard and had fun in the process," said EMCC men's golf coach Benji Williams.  "Joey is a consistent player who will be able to compete anywhere.  He really knows his game."

At this year's NJCAA Championship in Arizona, Mississippi Gulf Coast's Colin Troxler (70-69-69-74--282) earned individual medalist honors with a four-stroke victory over runner-up Noah Hofman of Southeast Community College (74-69-69-74—286).  In the team competition this past week, the MGCCC Bulldogs (277-293-294-296—1160) finished as national runners-up to host Mesa CC (287-292-287-289—1155).  Also out of the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC), the Meridian Eagles placed sixth nationally with a composite four-day total of 1196 (297-303-301-295).