It's Meridian for Lemaster

By Jason Bowen
The Daily Sentinel
Published June 24, 2006

Thanks to another former Scottsboro high golf standout, Meridian (Miss.) Junior College has a new golfer.

Tyler Nelson, who was a standout at Cleveland (Tenn.) State Community College, told the Meridian coaches about Jarrod Lemaster.

A month later, Lemaster has signed a letter of intent with Meridian.

“They got in contact with me after that and offered me a scholarship,” Lemaster said.

He had offers from other schools, including Huntingdon in Montgomery and Northwest Shoals Community College.

“Meridian is a good fit for him,” said Scottsboro head coach Stan Gibby. “Meridian is definitely committed to their golf program.”

Lemaster said he picked Meridian because of its golf tradition.

The Eagles finished third in the National Junior College Association’s Division II National Championship in May at Scottsboro’s Goose Pond Colony. Meridian also tied a school record by winning six tournaments this past season.

“We might be able to win (the national championship),” Lemaster said.

Lemaster is a product of Alabama's famed Robert Trent Jones Junior Golf Tour, which plays the spectacular Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Golf Trail. Lemaster was named the RTJ Jr. Tour 2005 Player of the Year after winning five RTJ Jr. Tour events. Lemaster also captured three high school medalist titles for Scottsboro High School in the spring of 2006 and finished 16th in the Class 5A State Tournament.

“Jarrod is a smart player,”said first-year Meridian head coach Sean Covich. “He has wonderful course management.”

Lemaster is busying himself this summer by playing in a lot of state golf events, including next weekend’s Future Masters Tournament in Dothan.

Lemaster’s varsity career at Scottsboro as a freshman, and head coach Stan Gibby said Lemaster’s work ethic has been second to none.

“He’s worked very hard the four years he’s been in our program. He’s committed a lot of time and expense playing in (tournaments in) the summer. We’re going to miss his leadership in our program.”

Meridian has a strong reputation of sending players on to NCAA Division I golf programs, something Lemaster says is one of his goals. Gibby thinks that’s possibable for Lemaster.

“He’s got a great opportunity to to get his education and and continue his golf career,” Gibby said. “The opportunity is there.”

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