No. 2 Gulf Coast wins for 7th time

There's a number all the players on the No. 2 Mississippi Gulf Coast golf roster know.

It's 10. The school record for tournament wins in a season is nine, and the Bulldogs have a chance to chase it down, especially after Tuesday.

Gulf Coast won its seventh event of the season, claiming the Warrior Invitational hosted by East Central by 43 strokes. The Bulldogs shot even-par 288 to finish at 8-under.

"It's no secret whatsoever," Gulf Coast coach Brad Thornton said. "We're trying to get to double-digit wins, not just tie the record. It's going to be tough with our remaining schedule, but I think our guys are more focused than ever. We're trying to put our mark in the history book."

Chase Kaiser (So., Natchez/Cathedral) is climbing up the record book for individual wins, too. He shot 69 Tuesday to finish 7-under for his fourth win of the season and fifth of his career. That's tied for third with Richie Williams (2008-2010) and Hayes Weathersby (2012-14).

Kaiser got off to a slow start with a bogey on No. 3. Then he had to take an unplayable lie when his ball wound up behind a rock on No. 6. He escaped with bogey, but then got hot.

"I told myself I could get hot if I stayed patient," he said. "I did, and I made a putt on the next. I took advantage of some short holes."

Kaiser scorched the next four holes with three birdies before an eagle on 10. Two more birdies down the stretch offset a couple bogeys told hold off East Central's Gage Miller, who shot 65 to finish second at 5-under.

Kyle Davidson (Fr., Kyalami, South Africa/St. Peter's College) finished third at 3-under playing as an individual.

"There's an acclimation period for the international players," Thornton said. "He's starting to get really comfortable at Gulf Coast. He puts in a lot of hard work at home, day in and day out. It showed up on the golf course today."

Will Burnham (Fr., Jackson/Jackson Prep) and Jackson Wise (Fr., Pontotoc/North Pontotoc) finished at 2-under tied for fourth. Andrew Zielinski (Fr., Ocean Springs/Ocean Springs) was tied for seventh.

"I thought we played the golf course well," Thornton said. "The wind changed up a little bit today. The guys kept in good position for most of the day. I don't think we made quite as many putts, but we were still able to accomplish the goal of winning the day."

Gulf Coast will go out of conference next week and play in the Andrew College Invitational. The event, which starts Monday, will take place at GlenLakes Golf Club in Foley, Ala., where the Bulldogs won their national championship in 2018.

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