Gulf Coast heads to Meridian as No. 1 team

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast ascended to the top spot of the Bushnell Golfweek NJCAA Division II Coaches Poll on Friday.

That means the Bulldogs will have an even bigger target on their backs when they head to Meridian over the weekend to play in the final MACCC event of the season.

"I don't think anything changes for us," Gulf Coast coach Brad Thornton said. "Obviously, with the expectations and everything, you're going to have pressure build up. These guys have come back from spring break and really put in work these past couple of days. I've still go all the confidence in them, but we're still going to get everybody's best shot."

Gulf Coast will try to complete a season sweep of conference events at Northwood Country Club. The 36-hole Meridian Spring Invitational will start Monday. The Bulldogs have won all five conference events and have a six-tournament win streak. If they win next week, they would tie the school record for victories in a season with nine.

The Bulldogs moved in front of defending champion South Mountain in the latest coaches poll. They received three of four first-place votes. Meridian remained ninth in this poll, with Northeast Mississippi receiving votes just outside the top 10.

Those two MACCC foes will be on hand at Northwood, where the host Eagles will be among the teams trying to hand Gulf Coast a rare loss.

"It's one of the older country clubs in the area, so it is a place where home-course knowledge plays a pretty big role," Thornton said. "Our guys throughout junior golf and even from last year's trip up there, I think we've got plenty of experience on it. With their focus and trying to tie the wins record for a season, there's plenty going for us in a positive way."

The MACCC Championship will be played April 4-5 at The Oaks Golf Club in Pass Christian. The NJCAA Gulf District Tournament will be April 20-21 at Beau Pre' Country Club in Natchez. If Gulf Coast qualifies, the NJCAA Tournament is in late May in Indiana.

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