Golf team bags third straight MACJC title

(From Left to right) MGCCCgolf coach Tommy Snell and MGCCC golf team members Jack Sargent, Brad Thornton, Marcus Fox, Drew Seals, MGCCC Dean of Athletics Ladd Taylor, and Jared Smith with the 2012 MACJC State Golf Championship award Apr. 17.

Rain cancels second round with Bulldogs well in front

AMORY,MS---Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College took a 13 stroke lead after round one and clinched another MACJC Golf Championship when rain cancelled Tuesday’s final round at River Birch Golf Club in Amory. The Bulldogs shot 297 (+9) in round one…13 shots better than second place teams East Mississippi and Northwest, which both shot 310 (+22). Co-Lin took fourth at 311 (+22) while Itawamba rounded out the top teams by shooting 313 (+25).

It’s the third straight MACJC title for the Bulldogs and fourth in the past five seasons. Gulf Coast also made it a clean sweep by winning all six MACJC events in 2012.

Gulf Coast freshman Brad Thornton earned the tournament’s Low Medalist honors by shooting 70 (-2) on Monday.

“The kids played really well,” said Gulf Coast golf coach Tommy Snell. “Kudos to freshman Brad Thornton for leading the team to victory. That's how we've played all year. When one golfer has a bad day, the other four pick him up.”

Gulf coast sophomore Jack Sargent shot 73 and tied for third while Jared Smith and Marcus Fox both shot 75 and Drew Seals shot 88. Fox also earned the 2012 Hubert Tucker Award for the lowest scoring average (74.27) in the MACJC in 2012

In addition to those honors, Fox, Sargent, Smith, and Thornton were all named to the 2012 All-MACJC First Team.

Gulf Coast will now prepare to go after a fifth straight Region 23 Title Apr. 22-23 hosted by Northeast at Big Oaks Golf Club in Tupelo.

“It's been apleasure coaching these guys, and I'm looking forward to taking them to the Region 23 Championship next week in Tupelo,” Snell added. “We'll have to beat some really good teams at Big Oaks.”