MCC golf adds MRA standout

(MERIDIAN) - Meridian Community College head golf coach, Sean Covich, announced that the Eagles have added yet another one of the State’s top recruits to his 2008 class.

John Cleveland, Jr of Madison-Ridgeland Academy signed his national letter of intent to play for Covich and the Eagles starting in the fall of 2008.

Cleveland was ranked in the top 15 among Mississippi junior golfers according to the 2007 Mississippi Junior Golf Association’s rankings. He was a member of the prestigious MJGA Cup Team and was selected to play in the Edwin Watts/BankPlus junior pro Am held at the PGA Tour’s Viking Classic in Madison.

During his 2007 MJGA Tour schedule, Cleveland posted five top-10 finishes, including a third place at the Mississippi-Louisiana Junior Championship.

This year, as a senior at MRA, Cleveland has posted three rounds of 75 or below, including his medalist title at Colonial Country Club earlier this season.

At MRA, Cleveland is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society and Student Council.

“John is a well rounded student athlete,” said Covich.

“I really expect him to be a leader in the classroom for us. His golf game has really blossomed the last few months and I expect great golf out of him also the next few years.”

John is the son of John, Sr. and Mary Cleveland of Ridgeland.

This years Eagles will compete in the MACJC State/Region 23 Championship on April 28th and 29th at Forest Country Club. Meridian, ranked seventh in the nation among junior college golf teams according to GolfStat.com, will enter this year’s event as the three time defending State/Region Champion and looking for school record fourth-straight State/Region title. Winner of the State/Region will advance to the NJCAA National Championship in Phoenix, AZ.