Lucy Lunceford paces EMCC women's golf trio with top-10 individual finish

GAINESVILLE, Ga. -- Freshman Lucy Lunceford paced EMCC's trio of women's golfers by posting a top-10 individual finish at this week's Spring Golden Tiger Collegiate Invitational. Hosted by NAIA member Brenau University, the two-day tournament concluded Tuesday and included four-year schools from the states of Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Lunceford recovered from a slow start due mostly to Monday's challenging weather conditions at Chattahoochee Golf Club to record the third top-10 individual finish of her freshman season. The Tuscaloosa native improved 14 strokes with a second-round 84 to record a two-day 182 total and tie for 10^th-place honors with Elizabeth Hamilton of Reinhardt University.

Freshman Lannee Bray, out of Raymond's Central Hinds Academy, made a seven-shot improvement during second-round play to finish in 22^nd place with a 195 total (101-94).

Fellow EMCC frosh Kaylee Dufrene, from New Orleans' Mount Carmel Academy tied for 25^th place (101-105—206) among the 33-player women's field.

Truett McConnell University (350-329—679) prevailed in the women's team competition with a decisive 43-shot victory over runner-up Reinhardt (366-356—722). Morela Boyd (82-83—165) of host Brenau University claimed women's medalist honors with a two-stroke win over Truett McConnell's Isabella Williams (87-80—167).

The EMCC men's golf team also took advantage of Tuesday's improved spring weather by finishing in third place at this week's Spring Golden Tiger Collegiate Invitational in Gainesville, Ga. Monday's opening-round play was halted early due to rainy and chilly weather conditions.

For the third straight men's tournament to open the spring golf season, the EMCC Lions made a significant improvement during second-round play by bettering their opening-round score by 20 strokes to finish the two-day event with a team score of 636 (328-308). In the eight-team men's field consisting primarily of four-year schools from the states of Georgia, South Carolina and Kentucky, EMCC finished just four shots by behind runner-up Covenant College (316-316—632). NAIA member Truett McConnell University claimed first-place team honors by 20 shots with a two-day total of 612 (310-302).

TMU's Matthew Bible (78-72—150) earned a one-shot win over Nichols Parish (78-73—151) of Emmanuel University to garner men's individual medalist honors.

Individually for the Lions, reigning All-MACCC performer Lorenzo Ligabue, of Italy, finished one shot out of 10^th place with a 157 total following his second-round 76.

EMCC freshman Whitt Welch, a Leake Academy product, fired the Lions' low round of the tournament with a 3-over-par 75 during second-round play to finish in a three-way tie for 12^th place at 158 (83-75).

Kosciusko's Trace Carpenter carded a pair of 80s for a 160 total to earn the Winona Christian School product a three-way tie for 16^th place.

EMCC freshman Lawson Burton, out of Itawamba Agricultural High School, made the Lions' biggest improvement of the week by bettering his opening-round score by nine strokes with a second-round 77 for a 20^th-place showing at 163.

Rounding out the EMCC men's scorecard for the week was the tandem of Spain native Pelayo Castillo Alonso and Hernando native Brian Ludden, competing as an individual, who posted identical scores of 84 and 80 to finish in a four-way deadlock for 21^st place at 164.

East Mississippi continues women's golf competition this coming week (March 17-18) by venturing to Lake City, Florida to take part in the Florida Gateway College Lady Timberwolves Spring Invitational. The EMCC men's golf team will resume MACCC competition by participating in the Meridian CC-hosted Lou Hart Invitational, March 24-25, at Northwood Country Club in Meridian.