MGCCC golf team, player both ranked 3rd in nation

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College's golf team moved up to claim the No. 3 spot in the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) Coaches Poll last week, with a comparative record of 31/33 and an adjusted team scoring average of 72.42.  The team was also ranked third by NJCAA and golfstat.com.

Probably the most outstanding results for the team is having two players ranked in the top 10, a first for Gulf Coast. Freshman Grant Motter ranked third (making him the top-ranked freshman in the nation) and sophomore Danny De Los Santos ranked 10th.  Sophomore Conner Entriken also ranked well, at 18th in the poll.

"We are all excited about the ranking and want to keep the pressure up to finish first in Mississippi and stay atop the national ranking as well," MGCCC Golf Coach Tommy Snell said.  "This is early and we still have a lot of improvement to make.  Once we get it together and the players buy in to what we're doing, we can really make a difference.  This is an outstanding team, a deep team, and I feel we have a better chance than ever to go all the way."

Motter, from Hattiesburg, has a comparative record of 197-2 and a 71.09 adjusted scoring average.   He is 16-1 vs. top 25 and 26-0 against the remaining Top 100.  "Motter is very strong in all areas of play," said Coach Snell.  "Grant is a great ball striker who can play on any type of course, always keeping the ball in play."

Motter said that the ranking felt "pretty cool" and that he planned to practice hard over the next few months to increase his skill level.  "No matter what I'm ranked right now, I have the potential to do better or worse, so it only really counts that week or in that game.  I plan to keep my head down, keep swinging, shoot for the win in every game and just do a lot of practicing until our spring schedule starts."

De Los Santos, a native of Lancaster, Texas, is ranked 10th in the nation by Golfstat and has a 190-9 comparative record and a 73.69 adjusted scoring average.  He is 11-6 vs. top 25.
"Danny has been a solid player during his whole career with us and really stepped out front during post season play last spring, helping us win third place at the national tournament in May," Snell said.  "He has continued to work on putting and chipping and has improved both a great deal.  I expect him to do very well this spring."

Entriken, from Kiln, has a 180-19 comparative record with a 74.07 adjusted scoring average.  He is 3-14 vs. top 25.  Snell said that Entriken is a natural athlete who has steadily improved his game. "Conner has an outstanding work ethic and it shows in his game.  He will be able to move up the ranking this year.  Danny, Conner and Fant Carpenter provide great leadership to the freshmen both on and off the course."

With this much talent, Snell predicts that qualifying in the spring will be quite competitive.  Gulf Coast will open the MACJC Spring Season at Copiah-Lincoln Community College on February 8-9 at Wolf Hollow Golf Club.