Eagles Claim Third In Nation

By Marty Stamper / staff writer
The Meridian Star
May 28, 2006

Led by Justin Eaves’ four-day total of even-par 288, the Meridian Community College Eagles golf team finished third in the 2006 NJCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championship played at Goose Pond Colony in Scottsboro, Ala. Darton (Ga.) College won the national championship with a 7-under par 1,145.

MCC and Kirkwood (Iowa) Community College tied at 1,154, but the Iowans defeated the Eagles in sudden death to take second place.

“Going into the last round, Kirwood was leading us by four and Darton by two,” said outgoing MCC golf coach Lou Hart. “When the day ended, we were tied with Kirkwood for second and Darton had distanced themselves from the field. They shot 4-under on the last day. They had a great tournament. They played solid. They never had a round in the 60s, but they never had to count a 74 or 75 either. They clearly won the championship.

“We were pleased to tie for second, it was just disappointing to lose in the playoff.

“I told the kids all along that I was hoping for a Top 5 finish. If we really played good, we had a chance in the Top 3. And if we really, really, really played above our heads, we actually had a chance at the title and, to be honest, we did.

“The last round, we just had one score that was higher than we had been having to count. It wasn’t going to make a difference, as far as the championship, even if we shot a 72.”

Eaves was selected to the All-American team after placing 10th individually with a 76-hole even-par score. He closed out with a 3-under par 69 on Friday.

“Justin ended up second-team All-American and made the all-tournament team and Dustin Petit made the all-tournament team,” Hart said. “I was very proud for those two boys to do that well.”

Petit shot a four-day total of 290 to tie for 18th overall. Petit shot a 71 on Friday.

MCC’s Jordy Hayden had a final round of 72 and tied for 20th place with a 291.

Matt Ellis had a 79 on the found round and tied for 33rd with a 294 total.

Shane Parker closed out with an 81 and tied for 71st at 305.

This was MCC’s best finish in the NJCAA National Championship since 1998 when the Eagles finished second. With their third place finish this year, MCC has now finished in the Top 10 at the NJCAA seven times.

Tyler (Texas) Junior College was fourth at 1,155, while Walters State (Tenn.) Community College came in sixth at 1,169, edging Glendale (Ariz.) Community College by a single stroke. East Central Community College’s Paul McMillin tied for 101st as an 82 on the final day left him at 316, 28-over par for the tournament.