EMCC Lions place sixth at Delta State University-hosted golf tournament

CLEVELAND – The Lions of East Mississippi Community College held their own on the links against a field comprised mostly of NCAA Division II competition by improving each round and finishing sixth at the Delta State University-hosted Derrall Foreman Invitational. The two-day tournament concluded with Tuesday's third round played at the Cleveland Country Club.

Following two rounds of golf played Monday on the 6,832-yard, par-71 Samuel T. Dunning Golf Course, the EMCC Lions posted the fourth-best score of the third round with a 14-over-par 298. All five EMCC golfers shot 78 or better on Tuesday to improve the team's opening-round score by 18 strokes and finish the tournament with a composite 915 (316-301-298).

Playing against NCAA Division II schools Kentucky State, Mississippi College, Delta State, Miles College and LeMoyne-Owen College along with MACCC foe Meridian Community College, the Lions gained 11 strokes on 15^th-ranked MCC during Tuesday's action to finish a dozen strokes behind the Eagles for the tournament.

"I'm very proud of the guys for pushing through these cold, wet and windy conditions," EMCC head men's golf coach Ashton Maddaloni said. "We had a very respectable team showing against these NCAA Division II schools."

EMCC's Carter Martin and Matthew Phillips finished among the top 10 overall on the player leaderboard with consistent play during both days. Martin, out of Canton Academy, shot identical 1-over-par 72s during all three rounds to place sixth overall (72-72-72—216). Phillips, from Columbus Christian Academy, finished in a three-way tie for seventh place (70-75-73—218) after beginning the tournament with a 1-under-par 70 during Monday's opening round.

East Mississippi's other three golfers all improved upon their first-day scores by 10 strokes or more by the final round. Daniel Martin finished the tournament in 27^th place (86-75-76—237) after shooting 75 and 76 during the final two rounds. Ben Boggan (91-79-77—247) and Spence Davis (88-87-78—253) saved their best golf for Tuesday's final 18 holes by shooting 77 and 78, respectively, to place 32^nd and 33^rd overall for the tourney.

Kentucky State (293-285-290—868) edged runner-up Mississippi College (286-287-297—870) by two shots to claim the team championship. Host Delta State finished close behind in third place with a three-round total of 872 (290-285-297).

MC's Jordan Logue fired sub-par rounds of 68, 67 and 67 to outdistance the field by 12 strokes and claim individual medalist honors with an 11-under-par 202. Kentucky State's Rhett Johnson was runner-up with a 1-over-par 214 (70-72-72).

East Mississippi's golf team is scheduled to resume MACCC competition, March 27-28, at the Meridian Community College-hosted conference event to be played at Northwood Country Club.