Strong Bulldogs golf team ready for MACJC Tourney

No. 5 Mississippi Gulf Coast has dominated the MACJC golf season, winning three of five regular-season tournaments. The postseason starts Saturday in Columbus with the MACJC Championship at Lion Hills Country Club.

"I feel really, really good," said Gulf Coast golf coach Tommy Snell, whose team finished second in the other two events. "We've been working hard, working on the things we need to work on.

"It's a state championship. Hopefully, the things we do that seem like sacrifices pay off in big events like this. That's what we've strived for all year."

Grant Motter enters the tournament leading the state in scoring average by two full strokes at 71.13 per round. He's got three teammates in the top nine: Conner Entriken (seventh, 75.00), Phillip Hickam (eighth 75.13) and George Kawell (ninth, 75.30).

All four will be in the running for All-MACJC first- and second-team slots, and the team will be aiming to qualify for the Region 23 Tournament. The team is ranked fifth by Golfstat.com.

"It's exciting," Snell said. "It's a deep team. They all get along really well. I like our chances, but we still have to play golf."

The top four team plus Jones, the Region 23 Tournament host, will advance, plus the top three individuals in final state scoring average not on those teams. The top two scorers from the MACJC Tournament not already in by those criteria also advance.

The Region 23 tournament, which will be April 26-27 at Laurel Country Club, will see one team advance to nationals, plus the five top individuals not on that team.

Follow tournament coverage online this weekend at http://www.golfstatresults.com/, or go to http://golfstat.golfweek.com/mobile/#/tournaments/M/ on your mobile device.