Eagles Lead National JuCo Golf Tourney After Two Rounds

By Rocky Higginbotham/ Meridian Star sports editor
Published: May 25, 2006

Sean Covich hasn't officially taken over as the head coach of the Meridian Community College golf team, and won't do so until June 1.

Earlier this week, he said he'd like nothing better than to send retiring coach Lou Hart out with a national championship.

So far, so good.

MCC fired a second-day team total of 4-under-par 284 Wednesday — jumping into first place overall at the halfway point of the NJCAA Men's Division II National Golf Championship.

"We're leading right now," said Covich, who is assisting Hart this week at the national tourney at Goose Pond Colony Golf Course in Scottsboro, Ala. "Hopefully, we can send Lou out with a championship."

MCC shot a 1-under-par 287 on the opening day Tuesday — a score which was good enough for fourth overall. After Wednesday's round, the Eagles are leading at 5-under, while Darton (Ga.) College is two shots back at 573. Walters (Tenn.) State is third at 1-under-par 575, while Kirkwood (Iowa) Community College and Tyler (Texas) Junior College are tied for fourth at 576. Sixth-place Mesa (Ariz.) Community College is 15 shots off the pace with a 586. There are 45 schools represented in all.

Individually, Meridian's Justin Eaves is in a five-way tie for fourth place with a 142. Eaves fired a 1-over 73 Tuesday, but came back with a 3-under 69 on Wednesday and is 2-under at 142.

Jordy Hayden is in a six-way tie for 15th place on a crowded leaderboard after shooting 71-73-144.

Dustin Petit (71-74-145), Matt Ellis (78-68-146) and Shane Parker (72-78-150) have also put up impressive numbers in the first two days — with Ellis' 68 on Wednesday being the low round for MCC thus far.

Justin Engel of Tyler is leading with a 4-under-par 140. He shot a 71 Tuesday and a 69 Wednesday.

Paul McMillan, a high school teammate of MCC's Eaves at Winston Academy in Louisville, is tied for 98th overall while playing as an individual for East Central Community College. McMillin shot a 75 Tuesday and an 83 Wednesday and is 14-over.

This is the second straight year for the national tourney to be hosted by Goose Pond. MCC finished fifth a year ago, and the Eagles' best finish ever was their national runner-up performance of 1998.