EMCC Lions set to tee off spring golf slate at The Oaks in Pass Christian

SCOOBA – The East Mississippi Community College men's golf team is set to tee off the spring portion of this year's MACCC schedule by competing in the Pearl River Invitational on Monday and Tuesday (Feb. 6-7). Hosted by Pearl River Community College, the two-day tournament will be played at The Oaks Golf Club in Pass Christian.

Head coach Ashton Maddaloni's five-member EMCC Lions golf squad is coming off a five-event fall campaign that was highlighted by a second-place finish at the Meridian CC-hosted tournament at Briarwood Golf Club.

"The team has looked good in practice, and they have been focusing on areas needing the most improvement in preparation for the spring," Maddaloni said.

EMCC's spring roster is headlined by sophomore Matthew Phillips, who led the Lions with his 76.18 stroke average last semester after capping the fall season with a third-place individual finish at the Jefferson State CC Pioneer Invitational. The Columbus Christian Academy product participated in the 2022 NJCAA Division II Gulf District Championship as an EMCC freshman.

The Lions' talented newcomer class features Mississippi Gulf Coast CC transfer Spence Davis along with freshmen Carter Martin, Daniel Martin and Ben Boggan, who all earned significant tournament experience during the fall. Davis, a Madison Central High School product, posted a 78.64 fall stroke average with a pair of top-20 individual finishes.

Carter Martin completed the fall slate ranked third on the team with an 80.82 stroke average. The Canton Academy product paced the Lions to their runner-up tournament finish last October in Meridian by tying for eighth place overall individually.

EMCC's spring quintet is rounded out by fellow freshmen Daniel Martin, from Parrish, Ala., and Benton Academy product Ben Boggan.

"This has been our core group all season, so I'm excited to see if we can improve upon last semester," Maddaloni continued. "I would definitely like to see us lower our scoring average as a team and limit our mental mistakes."

The remainder of the regular-season spring golf schedule has the EMCC Lions competing in March tournaments hosted by East Central CC (March 6-7 @ Dancing Rabbit GC), Delta State University (March 13-14 @ Cleveland CC), and Meridian CC (March 27-28 @ Northwood CC).

This year's MACCC Men's Golf Championship will be held April 4-5 at The Oaks Golf Club in Pass Christian. The NJCAA Division II Gulf District Championship is set for April 20-21 at Beau Pre' Country Club in Natchez.

"Overall, we are just taking it day by day, one tournament at a time," Maddaloni added. "I know these five guys have what it takes to make it to the postseason."