No. 1 Bulldogs run away for 3rd straight win
No. 1 Mississippi Gulf Coast won for the third straight time, claiming its second straight MACCC event by 33 shots over host Jones at the Laurel Country Club.
The Bulldogs were led by Will Burnham (So., Jackson/Jackson Prep), who shot a sparking 4-under 68 to win by five shots.
"Will's round was just outstanding," Gulf Coast coach Brad Thornton said. "That's an unbelievable round on that golf course to put the tournament away. He really put the team on his back."
Gulf Coast finished at 25-over for the two-day event. Jones was 58-over, with East Central another six shots behind. The Bulldogs haven't lost a round to MACCC competition the past season and a half.
Gulf Coast also had Andrew Zielinski (So., Ocean Springs/Ocean Springs) and Stanley Campbell (Fr., London, England/Essex Golf College) on the All-Tournament Team. Zielinski finished at 8-ver for fourth, and Campbell was another shot back tied for fifth.
"I thought we played really well on the top end," Thornton said. "Stanley was able to get it in with a 74 today, which was a great round."
Co-Lin's Oscar Toreld put some pressure on Burnham early in Tuesday's round. He started the day three shot back, but the Gulf Coast sophomore was able to hold him off for his fourth career win.
"He got off to a really hot start," Burnham said. "He was 4-under through seven. That just kept me going, knowing I had to keep making birdies. I really wasn't forcing anything. I knew if I kept hitting good shots, birdies would come to me. They eventually did."
Gulf Coast will close out its fall semester by hosting the MGCCC Fall Invitational. The 54-hole, two-day tournament will be played at Windance Country Club on Oct. 30-31. It's a non-MACCC event.
"To be able to go into our home event with three wins in a row is gonna be huge for us," Thornton said. "There's a lot to look forward to as we wind down the fall. There's definitely been improvement, and I'm really proud of them for coming out of there with the win."
Team scores |
|
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| 1. Gulf Coast | 299-302—601 (+25) |
| 2. Jones | 324-310—634 (+58) |
| 3. East Central | 324-316—640 (+64) |
| 4. Meridian | 326-317—643 (+67) |
| 5. Copiah-Lincoln | 325-322—647 (+71) |
| 6. Northeast Mississippi | 328-329—657 (+81) |
| 7. East Mississippi | 336-326—662 (+86) |
| 8. Hinds | 345-335—680 (+104) |
| 9. Itawamba | 345-348—693 (+117) |
| 10. Southwest Mississippi | 379-335—714 (+138) |
| 11. Pearl River | 359-360—719 (+143) |
MGCCC scores |
|
| Player | Score |
|---|---|
| 1. Will Burnham | 73-68—141 (-3) |
| 4. Andrew Zielinski | 74-78—152 (+8) |
| T5. Stanley Campbell | 79-74—153 (++9) |
| 8. Kyle Davidson | 76-82—158 (+14) |
| T10. Peyton Russell | 76-84—160 (+16) |
| T19. Ludvig Behring* | 82-81—163 (+19) |
| * — Playing as individual | |
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