EMCC Lions collect season-best, eighth-place team finish at Meridian-hosted Jim Redgate Invitational
With a 13-shot improvement on the final day of play, the East Mississippi Community College men’s golf team finished in a season-best eighth place at this week’s Jim Redgate Invitational played at Briarwood Golf Club. The two-day tournament, hosted by Meridian CC, was held Monday and Tuesday.
MERIDIAN – With a 13-shot improvement on the final day of play, the East Mississippi Community College men's golf team finished in a season-best eighth place at this week's Jim Redgate Invitational played at Briarwood Golf Club. The two-day tournament, hosted by Meridian CC, was held Monday and Tuesday.
Tuesday's final-round 304 gave EMCC a two-day total of 621 to finish just two shots behind seventh-place Pearl River CC. Coach Mark Furnari's Lions previously placed 10th during each of the team's first two fall MACCC men's golf events.
Sophomore transfer Watkins Dumas led East Mississippi earlier this week by tying for 13th place individually after his even par 72 capped his two-day effort of 148 (76-72). A transfer from Itawamba CC, Dumas was one of only 12 players out of 64 participants to shoot even par or better during Tuesday's final round. The Starkville product's 72 consisted of three birdies and three bogeys to go along with his dozen pars.
EMCC sophomore Pelayo Castillo (Oviedo, Spain) also improved his second-round score by four shots with a 76 Tuesday to finish in a tie for 30th place at 156 (80-76).
Fellow sophomore Bryce Shivers (Prentiss, MS/Prentiss Christian School), competing as an individual this week, finished tied for 32nd place with a two-day total of 157 (77-80).
A trio of freshmen rounded out EMCC's scorecard during the Lions' third tournament of the fall season. Amory product Ace Rock bettered his opening round by four shots with Tuesday's 78 to finish tied for 44th at 160 (82-78). Prep teammates Louis Couldridge (79-80—159) and Ewan Munday (84-78—162), from, Kent, England, tied for 39th and 48th, respectively.
No. 3 Mississippi Gulf Coast (278-289—567) swept the team and individual titles during the 11-team event. The Bulldogs bested the host MCC Eagles (295-292—587) by 20 strokes along with having four individuals make the all-tournament team. MGCCC's Paul Hoefer (71-70—141) earned individual medalist honors in a three-man playoff between Jones College's Bastian Graf (73-68—141) and Dax Reaux (69-72—141) of host Meridian.
The EMCC Lions are scheduled to compete next at the Jones College-hosted JC Invitational, Nov. 10-11, at Laurel Country Club.