MCC Golf Set To Compete In Belhaven College Invitational

MCC Sports Information
10/29/2006

MERIDIAN, Miss. – Meridian Community College’s golf team returns to the course on Monday, Oct. 30, competing in the Belhaven College Fall Invitational at Lake Caroline Golf Club in Madison, MS. The 36-hole tournament will continue thru Tuesday’s final round.

The Eagles are coming off their second top-five finish of the season at the Andrew College Fall Invitational in Ft. Gaines, GA. MCC finished fourth out of eleven teams in Georgia and just 11 shots behind the first place team. Eagle freshman Bryant Self led MCC in that event posting an even par two day total of 144 (69-75).

“We played really solid over in Georgia,” said MCC’s rookie head golf coach, Sean Covich.

“We broke 296 each day and we improved each day- as a coach- you can’t ask for a better effort on such a long and difficult course.”

The 2006 edition of the Belhaven College Fall Invitational will mark the first time that the MCC golf team has participated in the event. The 18-hole course at Lake Caroline Golf Club in Madison measures 6,865 yards from the back tee markers for a par of 72. Lake Caroline opened in 1997 and was designed by Frank 'Max' Maxwell, Jr.

“Some of our guys are very familiar with the Lake Caroline course, others are not,” Covich said.

“I expect us to continue to play consistent and gain confidence heading into our final few events of the fall season.”

Head coach Sean Covich will start three sophomores (Justin Eaves, Dustin Petit, and Zach Rushing) and two freshmen (Joshua Ivy and Bryant Self) for the MCC “Green” team. Ivy leads the team in scoring with a 73.71 average and the Quitman, Miss. native is currently ranked in the top-15 among NJCAA Div. II golfers. Ivy has posted seven straight rounds of 76 or better this year, including a 68 (-4) in the final round of the MCC/Rush Fall Invitational. Ivy will be making his 4th consecutive start as an Eagle. He has played in every event since coming to campus this fall.

MCC’s “White” team will consist of three freshmen (Michael Burton, Jarrod Lemaster and Curt Sparks) and two sophomores (Cole Clopton and Reid Kennedy). Freshman Ryan Hill will represent MCC in the field as an individual.

The field at the Belhaven College Fall Invitational includes – Belhaven College, Mississippi College, Millsaps College, Union College, Tougaloo College and others.

Monday’s competition includes 18 holes which will begin with a 9 a.m. shot gun start.