South Mountain claims Lou Hart Invitational, Eagles top five

(MERIDIAN)- South Mountain Community College traveled over 1,500 miles from Phoenix, AZ to Meridian, MS to participate in the Second Annual Lou Hart Invitational hosted by Meridian Community College at historic Northwood Country Club.

The trip paid off for the No. 2 ranked Cougars, as South Mountain came from behind to win the team championship by six strokes over Indian Hills Community College out of Iowa on Tuesday.

South Mountain shot the low round of the tournament on Tuesday with a final round 294 to secure the win. The Cougars, coached by Jake Herrington, finished at 889.

Former NJCAA national champions, Indian Hills claimed runner-up at 895. Three-time NJCAA national champions, Darton College out of Georgia, finished in third at 898. Wallace State claimed fourth with a 903, while Meridian Community College improved to fifth place with a 298 on the final day to finish with a three round total of 905.

“We played a little better today,” said MCC coach Sean Covich.

“Still, overall disappointed to not play better on our home course but golf can be that way some days. A lot of golf to be played this year and as we saw this week that this is a deep roster with a lot of talent.”

Twelve teams from six states participated in the two day, 54-hole event played on the par 71, 6,362 yard long Northwood Country Club layout.

Central Alabama Community College sophomore, Zach Primavera, won the medalist title for the second consecutive year with rounds of 69-70-71 to shoot 3-under par, 210. The Ole Miss signee won by three shots over South Mountain’s Branden Barron. Barron finished at even-par, 213 and was named to the all tournament team. Joining Barron and Primavera on the all tournament team was: Dean Rikard of Wallace State with a 215 (+2), Taylor Welborn of Darton with a 218 (+5) and Darton’s Trey McQuaig who had a 220 (+7).

Individually for MCC, freshman Bo Reed of Tupelo, MS led the way with a top ten finish. Reed shot 72-74-76 to finish in seventh place.

MCC sophomore and NJCAA All American, Garrett Westbrook, recorded a top ten individual finish also with rounds of 75-75-74 to place in a tie for ninth.

Other MCC scores include: t15 Cory Williamson (76-75-75), t18 Nick Hawkes (79-74-74), t18 Brandt Garon (75-77-75), t25 Tanner Sparks (79-74-77), t30 Clemens Dvorak (76-81-74), t36 Oscar Mariscal (77-78-79), and 39th Adam Monsen (78-78-79).

The Eagles return to action next week in the Arkansas State University Red Wolf Classic, an NCAA DI event.

Meridian will start postseason play April 19-20 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail-Cambrian Ridge in Greenville, AL for the NJCAA District IV Championship. Top six teams from that event will advance to the NJCAA Division I National Championship in Huntsville, AL on May 18-21.