MCC golf just three strokes off the lead at Black Bear GC

(Delhi, Louisiana)- The Meridian Community College golf team fired an opening round 309 team score to grab third place after 18 holes in the Mississippi-Louisiana College Invitational.

Despite being the only NJCAA team in the field, the Eagles held their own in a NCAA event on the 7,276 yard long, par 72 Black Bear Golf Club- host of professional golf events.

"The weather was perhaps as best we've seen this spring," said MCC head coach, Sean Covich.

"We're finally wearing shorts and seeing the winds die down a bit- a welcome sight considering there was snow on the ground last week."

Leading the way for the Eagles was Jarrod Moulds and Garrett Westbrook with rounds of 4-over par, 76. Moulds and Westbrook are tied for fifth place individually.

Tanner Sparks shot 6-over par, 78.

Clay Bounds shot 7-over par, 79 while Nick Hawkes shot 8-over par, 80.

Mississippi College leads the team race with a 306, University of Texas-Dallas is in second place with a 308 and MCC is in third with a 309.

LeTourneau University is in fourth with a 314, Univsity of Texas at Tyler is in fifth with a 317, Louisiana College is in sixth with a 328, and Millsaps College is in seventh with a 352.

Individually, Jesse Forsong of UT-Dallas is leading the medalist race with an opening round score of 1-over par, 73.

Joel Thelan of LeTourneau and Patrick Palmer of UT-Tyler are tied for second with 2-over par rounds of 74.

Final round of the 36-hole event starts Tuesday at 8:30 AM.