MCC Golf Completes Top Ten National Finish

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College golf team completed its 2016 spring season recently with a great postseason run at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament at Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, IN. The Eagles posted a total four-round team score of 1213 (61-over par) to finish the tournament in eighth place and also had a pair of its players named to the All-American Team.

Clayton Gray was named a Second Team All-American at the conclusion of the tournament, while Grant Reneger was named an Honraoble Mention All-American for the Eagles. Gray earned an All-American selection by placing 16^th among the field and finished the tournament with a four-round total of 293 (5-over par). Reneger was named an Honorable Mention for All-American by firing a four-round total of 296 (8-over par) which was good enough for a tie in 24^th position.

Camden Backel also finished tied for 37^th for the Eagles with a four-round total of 302 (14-over par), while former Lamar star Lance Strickland ended the tournament in a tie for 89^th with a four-round total of 322 (34-over par).

MCC was also honored during the pre-tournament festivities with two of its players being named to the PING All-American Team. Lance Strickland was named a first-team member of the NJCAA Division II PING All-American Team, while Grant Renegar was named a Second Team All-American representative from MCC. Strickland and Renegar were also named to the PING All-Region Team that consisted of players from the Central Region.

MCC head coach Ronnie Key was also named a finalist for the Dave Williams National Coach of the Year Award which is presented by Golf Pride Grips. The Williams Award honors the national coach of the year in NJCAA Division II men’s golf.

The night also included former MCC golf coach Lou Weddington Hart being inducted into the NJCAA Men’s Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Hart is the first ever female member of the NJCAA Men’s Golf Hall of Fame.