Bulldogs snag awards at NJCAA banquet
PLYMOUTH, Ind. — No. 1 Mississippi Gulf Coast put a pair of golfers on the PING All-American First Team and another on the Honorable Mention list. The awards were announced at the tournament-opening banquet at the NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship.
Stanley Campbell and John Mark Mills earned nods for the First Team, with Peyton Russell picking up Honorable Mention. Ludvig Behring was named to the All-South Region Team, and Brad Thornton was recognized as a Dave Williams Coach of the Year finalist.
Campbell, a freshman from London, England, is ranked No. 1 in the Clippd National Collegiate Golf Rankings. He has two tournament wins, seven top-three finishes and has been in the top 10 of all 12 events. His 71.45 stroke average is the fourth-lowest in school history.
It's his second appearance on the All-American list. He was on the Honorable Mention list last year, and he and Russell were on the All-Freshman Team last year.
Mills, a sophomore from Pontotoc, also has two tournament wins this year, and he tied with Campbell for low score in the Gulf Coast Invitational before losing in a playoff. He's ranked third in the Clippd National Collegiate Golf Rankings and has seven top-three finishes. Mills' 72.45 scoring average is 10th-lowest in school history.
Russell is a PING All-American for the second time, too. The sophomore from Gautier earned a spot on the Second Team as a freshman. He's ranked sixth in the country and has seven top-10 finishes.
Those three golfers were joined by Behring (So., Sollentuna, Sweden/Osterakers Gymnasium) on the PING All-South Region Team.
Thornton has led defending national champion Gulf Coast to nine wins in their last 10 tournaments and three other top-three finishes in 12 total tournaments this season. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 1 in the Bushnell Golfweek NJCAA Division II Coaches Poll and Clippd National Collegiate Golf Rankings. Thornton was the NJCAA Division II Dave Williams Award presented by Golf Pride Grips recipient in 2024.
This week's event is taking place at Swan Lake Golf Club. The 72-hole event starts Tuesday morning. The Bulldogs are scheduled to tee off for the first round in the afternoon. They are trying to repeat as national champions after last year's triumph in Joplin, Mo.
For more information on MGCCC's 12 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.
