Host EMCC Lions close out men’s golf season with seventh-place finish at NJCAA Gulf District Championship
The East Mississippi Community College Lions closed out their men’s golf season with a seventh-place team finish this week as tournament hosts of the NJCAA Gulf District Championship. The 54-hole tournament concluded Wednesday at Tunica National Golf Club.
TUNICA – The East Mississippi Community College Lions closed out their men's golf season with a seventh-place team finish this week as tournament hosts of the NJCAA Gulf District Championship. The 54-hole tournament concluded Wednesday at Tunica National Golf Club.
After sitting in sixth place following Monday's opening-round 309, EMCC slipped a notch in the later rounds to finish the three-day event with a total team score of 943 (309-311-323).
The Lions were led by 2024 All-MACCC performer Lorenzo Ligabue with his 29th-place individual finish after carding rounds of 78, 77 and 79 for a 234 total. Fellow EMCC sophomore Trace Carpenter followed two shots behind in 31st place with a 236 (78-77-81).
Lion freshmen Pelayo Castillo Alonso (78-79-81—238) and Lawson Burton (75-83-82—240) finished in 36th and 38thplace, respectively.
EMCC's scorecard was rounded out by the combined efforts of freshman Bryce Shivers and sophomore Brian Ludden. Shivers carded opening rounds of 79 and 78 before Ludden shot an 82 as a substitute during Wednesday's final round.
The top-ranked Bulldogs of Mississippi Gulf Coast (284-286-295—865) claimed their fifth straight district golf team title with an 18-shot win over Meridian (299-294-290—883). Jones College (292-291-301—884) finished one shot behind MCC to place third and qualify for next month's NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship, May 20-23, at Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, Ind.
The seven-team field was also comprised of Jacksonville (TX) College (307-289-296—892), East Central (313-299-293—905) and Northeast Mississippi (307-303-305—915).
Individually, Jones College's Sebastian Nowak (70-70-69—209) earned low medalist honors with a two-shot victory over runner-up John Mark Mills of Gulf Coast (68-71-72—211).
In upcoming women's golf action, EMCC freshmen Lucy Lunceford, Kaylee Dufrene and Lannee Bray are scheduled to participate in next week's (April 30-May 1) NJCAA Division II South District Championship to be played at Cider Ridge Golf Club in Oxford, Ala.