Gulf Coast in 2nd after first round
Mississippi Gulf Coast finished the opening round of the first MACJC event in second place, eight shots behind leaders Meridian.
The third-ranked Bulldogs were 4-under after nine holes, but struggled on the back to finish at 7-over. They're seven ahead of East Mississippi, eight ahead of East Central and nine ahead of Copiah-Lincoln. Host Hinds is sixth in the nine-team field.
East Mississippi's Rhett Welters and Meridian share the individual lead at 3-under on the par-72 Eagle Ridge Golf Course in Raymond. Phillip Hickam and Grant Motter are the top Bulldogs, tied for seventh at 1-over.
Colin Troxler is another shot back tied for 11th with Jesse Sunderman, who is playing as an individual. Wyatt Adkison (plus-3) and George Kawell (plus-6) are the other two golfers whose scores count toward the Gulf Coast team score.
Johanthon Newman (plus-3) and Tyler Schingle (plus-8) are the other Bulldogs individuals.
Play concludes Sunday with another 18 holes.
Team scores
Meridian 287 (-1)
Gulf Coast 295 (+7)
East Mississippi 302 (+14)
East Central 303 (+15)
Copiah-Lincoln 304 (+16)
Hinds 311 (+23)
Itawamba 318 (+30)
Northwest 324 (+36)
Northeast 329 (+41)
Gulf Coast scores
T7 Phillip Hickam 73 (+1)
T7 Grand Motter 73 (+1)
T11 Colin Troxler 74 (+2)
T11 Jesse Sunderman* 74 (+2)
T16 Wyatt Adkison 75 (+3)
T16 Jonathon Newman* (+3)
T26 George Kawell 78 (+6)
T33 Tyler Schingle* 80 (+8)
* -- Playing as individual