MGCCC golf team finishes fifth at NJCAA D-II Tourney

Marcus Fox is a 2012 Ping All-American Second Team honoree.

Two Bulldogs earn All-American honors

PLYMOUTH, IN---In one of the team’s best performances at the National level, the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College golf team finished in fifth place at the NJCAA D-II Tournament at Swan Lake Golf Club. The Bulldogs stayed in the top five the entire tournament and were tied for first place after round one.

Gulf Coast (294-302-308-296---1200/+48) finished four shots behind fourth place Southeast (NE) while John A. Logan (IL) took third, Tyler (TX) finished second, and South Mountain (AZ) won the D-II title. Gulf Coast sophomore Jared Smith (69-73-76-76---294/+6) finished fourth individually and earned NJCAA All-American Honors and a spot on the All-Tournament team. Bulldog freshman Brad Thornton (75-78-74-74---301/+13) was 18th and also took home NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American honors. Gulf Coast sophomores Marcus Fox and Jack Sargent both finished tied for 32nd.

“It was a great week,” said Gulf Coast golf coach Tommy Snell. “The guys competed hard against the best players in the Nation at this level. This group has played at a championship level from start to finish this spring.”

In addition to the All-American honors, Jared Smith was named to the Ping All-American First Team squad while Marcus Fox earned Ping All-American Second Team honors. Also, Fox, Smith, Drew Seals, and Sargent were all named to the Ping D-II Central Region All-American squad.

In 2012, Gulf Coast won its fifth straight Region 23 title and third straight MACJC Championship and also swept every MACJC regular season event.