Wallace State holds on to win Jim Redgate Invitational

(MERIDIAN) – Wallace State Community College held a four shot lead over Meridian Community College heading into Tuesday’s final round at the Jim Redgate Invitational played at Briarwood Country Club.

The Lions from Hanceville, Ala. posted a 293 team score on Tuesday which was good enough to hold on for the win. Wallace State held off a charging Central Alabama squad who posted the day’s lowest round, an even-par team score of 288. MCC matched Wallace State’s 293 on the final day and failed to make up any ground despite playing on their home course.

Wallace State finished with a 875 (+11) to win their first title of the season, while Central Alabama claimed consecutive runner-up finishes to start the 2010 season with an 877 (+13) just two shots back of Wallace State. Meridian finished in third place with an 879 (+15), four strokes back of the champions. Darton College out of Georgia claimed fourth place with an 887 (+23), while Rend Lake College of Illinois rounded out the top five with a 904 (+40).

“We struggled down the stretch on Tuesday, probably pressing too much to force birdies on some holes we shouldn’t have,” said MCC head coach Sean Covich.

“But what really cost us this tournament wasn’t what happened on the final day, it was the opening round of 301 which is 12 shots higher than our average score.”

Individually for MCC, sophomore Adam Monsen, who was on MCC’s B team, led the Eagles in scoring.

Monsen shot even par for the 54-hole event, shooting rounds of 72, 76, and a career low 4-under par 68 on the final day to register a top five individual finish. Monsen was also named to the all tournament team.

“If Adam would have been in the starting line-up obviously things would have been different, but its great to see him improving and he’s earned a start in our next match for sure,” added Covich.

For MCC’ A team, sophomore Clemens Dvorak led the way shooting 2-over for the tournament with rounds of 77, 71, and 70. Dvorak finished in sixth place.

Meridian freshman Easton Key finished in a tie for seventh place as he posted a 3-over tournament total with rounds of 72, 72, and 75.

Jake Striling, also a freshman, shot 3-over with rounds of 76, 70, and 73 and was in a four way tie for seventh place.

Sophomore Brandt Garon shot 7-over for the event with 76, 72, and 75 to finish in a tie for 12th place.

Joining Monsen on MCC’s B team was freshman Alex Grannon who finished in a tie for 19th place with an 11-over par total. Grannon shot 75, 76, and 76.

Sophomore Oscar Mariscal carded a 16-over total after rounds of 84, 75, and 73. Mariscal tournament was highlighted by a hole in one on the 205 yard par 3 third hole, the first hole in one of his career. Mariscal finished in a tie for 31st place.

Rounding our MCC’s scoring was freshman Ruston Smith who posted 19-ver par for the tournament with rounds of 83, 72, and 79.

Central Alabama sophomore Paul Harris won the medalist title with an 8-under par performance. Harris won by seven shots after rounds of 69, 68, and 71.

MCC will be in action again on Friday, October 8 when they travel to Lake Caroline Golf Club in Madison to face Millsaps College in a match.


Team Results:

1-Wallace State 875 (289-293-293)
2-Central Alabama 877 (296-293-288)
3-Meridian 879 (301-285-293)
4-Darton 887 (302-291-294)
5-Rend Lake 904 (302-301-301)
6- MCC B Team 909 (314-299-296)
7- Faulkner State 912 (316-295-301)
8- Univ of Mobile 919 (313-305-301)
9- MS Gulf Coast 941 (315-310-316)
10- East Central 986 (336-328-322)

Individual Top 5:

1- Paul Harris (CACC) -8 (69-68-71)
t2- Blaise Wilson (Wall St) -1 (70-72-73)
t2- Taylor Welborn (Darton) -1 (73-72-70)
t2- Jimmy Lloyd (Wall St) -1 (72-72-71)
5- Adam Monsen (MCC B Team) E (72-76-68)