MCC Golf Prepares for National Tournament

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College golf team is in full preparation for its biggest tournament of the season as it is set to compete on the national stage. The Eagles are set to participate in the 2016 NJCAA Division II National Championship Tournament on May 24-27 at Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, IN. The team will depart for the tournament on Friday and are looking to build on an already stellar record in 2016. MCC played in 11 total tournaments during the season and won four over that span, and most against some of the top competition in the Southeast.

The Eagles will enter the tournament ranked fourth according to the latest Golfstat.com rankings and several of the players on the roster have had a superb season for MCC head coach Ronnie Key. MCC will send four of its players to the National Tournament after finishing second in the Region 23 Tournament earlier this season to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. The Eagles had four of its players qualify for the National Tournament based on its impressive scoring averages during the conference season and one of those players is from the Meridian area. Freshman Lance Strickland, a former Lamar standout, will lead the Eagles into the national event after claiming the 2016 MACJC Player of the Year Award. Strickland led the way with a 70.38 scoring average in the six MACJC tournaments that he competed in during the season. Strickland is currently ranked third in the nation among all players in the Division II ranks heading into the tournament after winning two tournaments during the season. Strickland was all named to nine All-Tournament Teams in 11 appearances for the Eagles during the season.

Sophomore Grant Renegar (McComb, MS- Parklane Academy) will also look to lead the Eagles to victory and made the MACJC All-State First Team, and is currently ranked 10^th nationally among all players in Division II. Renegar won a pair of tournaments during 2016 and was also named to the All-Tournament Team on eight different occasions. Renegar has a 72.64 scoring average in 11 tournaments this season and qualified for the National Tournament bases on his scoring average this season for the Eagles.

Freshman Camden Backel (Madison, MS- Madison Central) will also look to make a splash at the event after having a solid first year for the MCC golf program. Backel made the MACJC All-State Second Team and is currently ranked 17^th nationally among all Division II players. Backel placed on four All-Tournament Teams during the season and finished with a 73.64 overall scoring average. Backel also qualified for the National Tournament with his strong play at the Region 23 Tournament bases off his scores.

The final member of the MCC golf team to qualify for the National Tournament was sophomore Clayton Gray (Baldwyn, MS- Baldwyn). Gray had a 77.04 scoring average during the season and is ranked 75^th nationally. Gray also qualified for the National Tournament with his strong performance at the Region 23 Tournament.

The MCC golf team also performed well in the classroom to conclude the 2015-2016 academic year by posting a team GPA of 3.38.