EMCC Lions make 22-stroke improvement during men’s golf opener at Hinds

RAYMOND — A 22-stroke improvement from Saturday to Sunday highlighted East Mississippi Community College's first men's golf tournament action in more than three years.  The Lions placed ninth this past weekend at the season-opening MACCC event held at Eagle Ridge Golf Club on the Hinds Community College campus.

Following a three-year hiatus from competition and now under the guidance of first-year head coach Ashton Maddaloni, the EMCC Lions collectively carded a 342 during Sunday's action at the 6,722-yard, par-72 layout.  The 22-stroke improvement bettered Saturday's opening-round team score of 364.

 "For a team that is for the most part inexperienced in competitive golf, they fought hard, they didn't give up, and they learned from their mistakes," Maddaloni said.  "I think all things considered, we had an impressive opening outing."

Individually this past weekend for the Lions, Payton Chandler led the way with a two-round total of 168.  The former baseball and basketball standout at Calhoun City High School shot 82 and 86 to finish 44^th overall in his collegiate debut.

Columbus Christian Academy products Matthew Phillips and Lawson Studdard placed 51^st and 52^nd, respectively, for EMCC.  Phillips improved his opening-round score by 11 strokes with Sunday's final-round 83 to finish at 177, while Studdard fired consistent rounds of 89 and 90 to shoot 179 overall.

Thomas Jackson, out of Hamilton High School, made an impressive 16-shot improvement by shooting 83 on Sunday to tie for 55^th place at 182 overall.

Will Teague, another Columbus Christian Academy graduate, rounded out the Lions' season-opening scorecard with a 58^th-place finish at 197 (101-96).

For EMCC's trio of former Columbus Christian Academy student-athletes (Phillips, Studdard & Teague), this past weekend marked their first-ever competitive golf tournaments as the three have only been playing golf for about a year.

"I see an incredible amount of potential from everyone, and I am optimistic.  We may be slow out of the gates, but I am excited to see them improve," Maddaloni continued.  "I think with more strategic practice this week on weaker areas in our games, you will see a vast improvement next week when we play in Itawamba's tournament.  

The EMCC Lions are slated to return to the links, Oct. 4-5, at River Birch Golf Club in Amory.  The Itawamba-hosted event will take place Monday and Tuesday.

Meridian Community College claimed the tournament title this past weekend in Raymond with a 5-stroke victory over Mississippi Gulf Coast (578-583).  Northeast Mississippi finished third with a two-day team total of 592.  Individual medalist honors went to Northeast's Tate Dickerson (68-70—138), who edged out Meridian's Noah Bumgarner (71-68—139) by a single stroke.