No. 2 MGCCC leads MACJC Championship

Jackson Wedgeworth leads the field lifted No. 2 Mississippi Gulf Coast to a first-round lead in the MACJC Championship, being played at Dancing Rabbit Golf Club in Philadelphia.

"You're not going to have a big lead on Meridian," Gulf Coast coach Tommy Snell said. "They're just too good. To be up on them by two shots, I'm pleased."

Gulf Coast shot a 3-under 285 to lead Meridian heading into the final day of the 36-hole event. The Bulldogs are looking for their eighth MACJC golf championship since 2008.

The leaders tee off at 7:30 Friday.

Wedgeworth (So., West Jones/Soso) fired a 5-under 67 to lead by a shot after 18 holes. Brice Wilkinson (Fr. Madison Central/Madison) is two shots back tied for third. Only five players got into red numbers.

"Jackson played very well, and Brice got on a little run at the end to shoot 3-under," Snell said. "Carter really came through and shot 1-over. That really helped. Overall, I'm pleased."

Carter Nicholson (Fr., Pearl River Central/Carriere) is tied for sixth, and Colby Entriken (So., Hancock/Pass Christian) is tied for 10 with a 76.

Jackson had eight birdies, but his best work might have been late in the round.

"He just played like Jackson can play. He's fearless," Snell said. "The only bad shots I saw him hit were on 16 and 17. He drove it in the woods on 16 and made a good recovery for par. Then on 17, he made a great bogey with a long putt."

Wilkinson made birdies on three straight holes starting at No. 15 to surge into third.

"We've got a two-shot lead," Snell said, "so we've got to hold on."

Five teams from the MACJC Championship advance to the NJCAA District D Championship in two weeks at Lion Hills Country Club in Columbus. East Mississippi, that tournament's host, gets an automatic berth in the field.

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