MCC golf set for spring season

Eagles enter Spring ranked in Division I national top-10

(MERIDIAN, Miss.) - The Meridian Community College golf team will begin its spring schedule on Monday at the Wynlakes Wynter Nationals in Montgomery, Ala. played at Wynlakes Country Club.

The Eagles will enter the spring season as the No. 6 ranked team in the country according to GolfStat.com, meanwhile the NJCAA.com poll has them as the No. 9 ranked team in junior college golf.

"Either way we're a consensus top ten team at the Division I level which says a lot considering this is just our second year since moving up from Division II," said fourth year head coach Sean Covich.

MCC blistered the competition in the fall to climb from being unranked to one of the top ten teams in the country. The Eagles served notice in their first fall event shooting a school record 13-under par (275) in the final round of the Wallace State Invitational.

MCC also captured three team tournament titles during the fall, including a 16-shot victory in their last event over the defending NJCAA national champions (John A. Logan College).

This week's event will consist of 36 holes over two days with 18 holes being played Monday and Tuesday. First-round action is set to get underway at 9:30 a.m. (CST).

The 14-team field has host-school Huntingdon College, Alabama State University, Birmingham-Southern College, Martin Methodist College, Andrew College, Talladega College, LaGrange College, Montevallo University, Faulkner University, Sewanee University, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Millsaps College, and Meridian Community College.

MCC will be led by freshman Brandt Garon. The Baton Rouge native is currently the No. 1 ranked player in Region 23 and the No. 4 ranked player in the nation according to GolfStat.com. Garon won his first college event with an 11-under performance at the Wallace State Invitational in Cullman, AL back in September. Garon led the team with a 71.1 scoring average during the fall.

Sophomore Cory Williamson will also look to anchor the Eagle line-up this spring. The Collins, MS native rides a wave of momentum coming off his first collegiate medalist title at the Hilton Garden Inn Invitational played at Windance Country Club in October. Williamson bested 97 golfers as he shot 70-72 (-2) to win. Williamson averaged a 73.1 scoring average during the fall.

Sophomore team captain and returning NJCAA All-American, Garrett Westbrook will add experience to the line-up. The Baton Rouge native played steady for MCC during the fall as he averaged 73.3 and was named to the All Tournament team at the Hilton Garden Inn Invitational.

Also in the lineup this week will be freshman Clemens Dvorak of Vienna, Austria. Dvorak posted a steady average of 73.3 and was named to the All Tournament team at the Hilton Garden Inn Invitational.

Making his first start for MCC will be freshman Adam Monsen of San Antonio, TX. Monsen had his best performance in the final fall event, posting rounds of 74-73 to place in a tie for 8th at the Hilton Garden Inn Invitational.

"This is a new lineup for us but a strong one," said Covich.

"We're using the spring regular season to find out who will be the final five that represent us in post season play."

The first round of the Wynlakes Wynter Nationals will be played on Monday, Feb. 22, followed by final round action on Tuesday.

2010 Spring Golf Schedule
Feb. 22-23
Wynlakes Wynter Nationals
Montgomery, AL
Wynlakes CC

March 1-2
Faulkner State Invitational
Fairhope, AL
Rock Creek

March 11-12
Battle on the Pond (MCC v John A Logan)
Scottsboro, AL
Goose Pond GC

March 18-20
Spring Fling College Classic
Scottsboro, AL
Goose Pond GC

April 5-6
2nd Annual Lou Hart Invitational
Meridian, MS
Northwood CC

April 12-13
Arkansas State Univ. Red Wolves Classic
Jonesboro, AR
Ridgepointe CC

April 19-20
NJCAA District IV Championship
Greenville, AL
RTJ Cambrian Ridge

May 14
MCC Alumni & Friends Scramble
Meridian, MS
NAS Ponta Creek

May 18-21
NJCAA Division I National Championship
Huntsville, AL
RTJ Hampton Cove