MCC Golf ends fall season as #3 ranked team in the nation

NJCAA Div I Men's Golf National Poll

(MERIDIAN) - The Meridian Community College golf team enjoyed one of the most successful fall golf seasons in school history, and the national polls have taken notice.

The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) released their men’s golf division I coaches poll yesterday and the MCC Eagles are ranked No.3, moving three spots up from last months poll when they were sixth.

“It’s nice to be recognized nationally as one of the top programs in the county,” said fifth year head coach, Sean Covich.

“I think at one point in both the computer rankings (GolfStat.com) and the coaches poll (NJCAA) we were ranked No. 1, but again- rankings don’t mean a whole lot, but final scores do.”

Coming off a National Championship runner-up season in 2010, the Eagles entered the fall season with high expectations…. and delivered.

MCC set two school record en route to a season opening victory at the Wallace State Fall Invitational back on September 13-14. The Eagles blistered the Cullman Golf Course with a school record 14-under par, 274 team score in round two of the Wallace State Invite. Freshman Easton Key set a new MCC record for lowest individual round with a 7-under par 65 as MCC went on to win both the team title and the individual medalist title. MCC’s Brandt Garon won in a playoff over Wallace State’s Dean Rikard to capture his third individual title as an Eagle. Garon and Key were both named to the all tournament team.

The Eagles then returned home at the end of September to host the annual Jim Redgate Invitational at Briarwood Country Club. Despite struggling in the opening round, the Eagles were still in contention after a tournament low 3-under team score of 285. MCC ended the event just a mere four shots off the leaders and claimed a third place finish as sophomore Adam Monsen led the Eagles with rounds of 72-76-68 to earn an all tournament team award.

MCC then hit the road in mid-October to face NCAA team, Millsaps College in a one day match at Lake Caroline Golf Club. It was no contest as MCC dominated Millsaps for a 30 stroke victory, 283 (-5) to 313 (+25). The Eagles were led by freshman Jake Stirling who posted a 3-under par 69 to win medalist honors. Six Eagles posted round of even par or lower in the match.

Meridian then returned to Madison at the end of October for the Lake Caroline Collegiate Invitational, which featured all NCAA or NAIA four year university teams, and MCC. 14 teams from six different states were entered in the event. MCC dominated for a 14-shot victory over the University of Texas-Tyler. The Eagles also defeated in-state schools: Belhaven University, Millsaps College and Mississippi College, along with national programs like the University of New Orleans, University of Texas-Tyler and Shorter University. MCC was led by sophomore Clemens Dvorak who shot 72-73 and ended in third place out of 80 golfers. Dvorak, along with Brandt Garon, Easton Key and Jake Stirling were named to the all tournament team.

On November 1-2 MCC traveled to Willow Point Golf Club in Alex City, AL for the NJCAA District IV Preview, featuring all the NJCAA DI teams from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The Eagles were just four shots shy of the team title, but one again had sophomore Brandt Garon capture a medalist title. The Baton Rouge native shot 7-under par (70-67-72) in very difficult conditions on the 7,256 yard layout to win by two strokes.

The Eagles then wrapped up their fall season at the Holiday Inn Invitational in Gulfport at Windance County Club. MCC looked to defend their title, in 2009 the Eagles dominated the event winning by 16 stokes over South Mountain Community College out of Phoenix, Ariz. MCC entered the final day in third, nine shots back of first place. The Eagles then went out and shot the lowest score on Tuesday, a 2-over par 290, to claim runner-up and finish just two shots behind tournament champion- Central Alabama. Individually, MCC was lead by the freshman duo of Easton Key and Jake Stirling who were both named to the All Tournament Team after shooting 1-under par for the event. Key posted rounds of 69-74 while Stirling had 74-69.

MCC ended the fall season with three wins, one runner-up and two third palace finishes in six events. MCC went 49-5 versus all competition and was just 10 shots away from going undefeated in the fall season. They return to action Feb 21-22 at Rock Creek Golf Club in Fairhope, AL for the Faulkner State Spring Invitational.