EMCC’s Lucy Lunceford collects fifth career top 10 finish in women’s golf season opener at Kirkwood

HOLLY SPRINGS – Sophomore Lucy Lunceford placed ninth individually to lead East Mississippi Community College during this week's season-opening inaugural Ranger Classic held at Kirkwood National Golf Club. The two-day women's golf tournament, hosted by Northwest Mississippi Community College, was played on Monday and Tuesday.

Lunceford, from Tuscaloosa, Ala., carded rounds of 86 and 89 for a two-day total of 175 to record her fifth career top 10 individual finish as a collegian. A year ago, as an EMCC freshman, she earned low-medalist honors in her collegiate debut at the EMCC Invitational played at Tunica National. Two tournaments later, the Northside High School product claimed runner-up individual honors at the Meridian CC-hosted Jim Redgate Invitational held at Briarwood.

At this week's fall opener in Holly Springs, Lunceford battled back from slow starts on both days to post improved back-nine scores. After posting double-digit, over-par opening rounds each day, she settled down following the turns to card a 4-over-par 40 during Monday's back-nine followed the next day by a back-nine score of 6-over 42. Lunceford stood in a four-way for fourth place following Monday's opening-round 86.

Fellow EMCC sophomores Lannee Bray (Raymond, MS/Central Hinds Academy) and Kaylee Dufrene (New Orleans, LA/Mount Carmel Academy) both fired rounds of 88 during the season-opening tournament. Bray improved her opening-day score by eight shots to climb six places to 13^th overall with a two-day total of 184. Dufrene sat two strokes behind Lunceford in a three-way tie for eighth place on Monday before falling 10 notches the next day to finish in a three-way tie for 18^th place with a 190 total.

Defending NJCAA Division II women's golf national champion Shelton State Community College (325-324—649) coasted to an 85-shot team victory over runner-up Snead State CC (377-357—734). Host Northwest Mississippi (369-366—735) finished third followed by Calhoun (374-371—745) and Roane State (423-406—829).

Individually, Shelton State's Emma Bark (79-81—160) edged teammates Katie Hallmark (78-83—161) and Sawyer Hobbs (88-74—162) to claim low-medalist individual honors in the fall opener.

In EMCC's second season of women's golf competition, head coach Mark Furnari's Lions are scheduled to next compete in women's action at the NJCAA Division II South District Preview, Sept. 29-30, at Cider Ridge Golf Club in Oxford, Ala.