Burnham signs with USM

PERKINSTON — Last year's Phil Mickelson Award winner will be headed to an NCAA Division I school to continue his collegiate career.

Will Burnham, a Jackson Prep product, will be headed just up the road to Hattiesburg to play at Southern Miss.

"It's been my dream to play there," he said. "I grew up an Ole Miss fan, but I love Hattiesburg and really want to go to school there."

Burnham was named the top freshman in NJCAA Division II to earn the Mickelson Award and earned a spot on the PING All-American Second Team. He won NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship All-Tournament honors, as well as a spot on the NJCAA All-American Second Team. 

This year, Burnham lost a playoff with teammate Peyton Russell for medalist at the national tournament preview in Joplin, Mo. He got his fourth career win at the Bobcat Invitational at Laurel Country Club, then finished second at the MGCCC Fall Invitational last week.

"Will has been great for us since the moment he walked on campus," Gulf Coast coach Brad Thornton said. "He's taken care of his business on and off the golf course. He's been a fantastic part of this team, and I can't wait to see how he plays the rest of this season and at USM." 

Burnham has done great work in the classroom. He was named to the NJCAA All-Academic Second Team (3.80-3.99 GPA) and Distinguished Academic All-MACC team.

"Brad and Gulf Coast have done so much for me," Burnham said. "This was my only offer coming out of high school. It was my dream to play Division I, and coming here has helped me reach that goal. I'm so thankful for everything Gulf Coast has done for me."

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