EMCC Lions finish seventh in Jones-hosted Bobcat Invitational played at Laurel Country Club

The Lions of East Mississippi Community College trimmed a dozen strokes off their opening-round score to post a seventh-place team finish at this week’s Bobcat Invitational. Hosted by Jones College, the MACCC’s third men’s golf tournament of the fall season concluded Tuesday afternoon at Laurel Country Club.

EMCC Lions finish seventh in Jones-hosted Bobcat Invitational played at Laurel Country Club
October 18, 2023

LAUREL – The Lions of East Mississippi Community College trimmed a dozen strokes off their opening-round score to post a seventh-place team finish at this week's Bobcat Invitational. Hosted by Jones College, the MACCC's third men's golf tournament of the fall season concluded Tuesday afternoon at Laurel Country Club.

Led by newcomer Lorenzo Ligabue's final-round 77, EMCC carded a 324 as a team on Tuesday to finish just three shots behind sixth-place Northeast Mississippi (328-329-657).

Ligabue, from Italy, bettered his opening-round score by 10 strokes to finish in a three-way tie for 21st place that also included EMCC teammate Daniel Martin (80-84—164). Ligabue has either paced the Lions or tied for team scoring honors during all three of EMCC's fall tournaments.

Hernando native Brian Ludden (87-80—167) and reigning NJCAA Gulf District Championship participant Carter Martin (82-86—168) placed 28th and 31st, respectively, for the Lions.

Freshman Jack Mohead, out of Lee Academy, rounded out EMCC's scorecard by improving nine shots on the second day to tie for 39th place with a two-day score of 175 (92-83).

In addition for the Lions, freshman Haavard Haakensen, from Norway, posted scores of 88 and 90 to tie for 48th place while competing as an individual.

Perennial MACCC golf powerhouse Mississippi Gulf Coast (299-302—601) earned a commanding 33-stroke victory over the host Jones Bobcats (324-310—634) to claim the Bobcat Invitational team title. The remaining top five teams were East Central (324-316—640), Meridian (326-317—643), and Copiah-Lincoln (325-322—647).

Individual medalist honors this week went to Mississippi Gulf Coast's Will Burnham (73-68—141) with a five-shot victory over Oscar Toreld of Copiah-Lincoln (75-71—146).

Head coach Ashton Maddaloni's East Mississippi Lions are scheduled to return to golf action in two weeks (Oct. 30-31) at the MGCCC Fall Invitational to be held at Windance Country Club in Gulfport.