MCC Golf Team Earns Awards: Eaves/Petit named PING All Americans, Covich named MACJC Coach of the Year

(MERIDIAN, Miss.)– Following a record setting season, members of the Meridian Community College golf team continue to earn awards. The Eagle golf team set a school record for most wins in a season (9) on their way to a third place finish in the NJCAA Div. II men’s golf national championship played last week.

The Golf Coaches Association of American (GCAA) has announced its NJCAA Division II PING All-America Teams and MCC sophomores Justin Eaves and Dustin Petit have been named to the first and second team. Both Eaves and Petit earned NJCAA All-American honors last week at the national championship, but this is the first time that any MCC golfer has been named to the PING All-America team.

“As a member of the Golf Coaches Association of America, members of my team were eligible for this particular award,” said MCC golf coach Sean Covich.

“This is the first year that PING has honored junior college golfers with this award so we hope to have many more PING All Americans here at MCC.”

MCC sophomore, Dustin Petit, a native of Luling, La., shot four consecutive under-par rounds at the national championship (71-68-70-71) and claimed runner-up medalist with his 8-under par performance. Petit was named to the NJCAA national championship all –tournament team for the second consecutive year and was named first team NJCAA All-American. In addition to those awards, the GCAA has named Petit first team PING All-American.

MCC sophomore, Justin Eaves, a native of Louisville, Miss., shot 13 rounds of even-par or better this season including three at last weeks’ national championship (71-69-72) en route to his second consecutive top-ten individual finish at the national event. In 2006, Eaves finish t-10th with a 72-hole even-par 288 total and this year he finished t-7th with a four-day 2-under par total of 286. Eaves earned second team NJCAA All-American and NJCAA national championship All Tournament team honors for the second consecutive year. In addition to those awards, the GCAA has named Eaves second team PING All-American.

MCC head golf coach Sean Covich, who was named the 2007 NJCAA Region 23 Golf Coach of the Year back on April 17, has been named the 2007 Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges Golf Coach of the Year, as well.

“This award or any award that I obtain goes straight to the guys on this team, the Meridian golfing community and the MCC family,” said Covich. “Without them, none of this would be possible.”

Under the direction of Covich, MCC claimed their third consecutive top-five finish in the NJCAA national championship. The Eagles also claimed a school record nine tournament victories and their third consecutive MACJC State/NJCAA Region title.