Bulldogs golf finished second in first tournament

Mississippi Gulf Coast finished second in its first golf tournament, two shots behind the hosts at the Wallace State Fall Invitational in Cullman, Ala.

Phillip Hickam made the All-Tournament Team by finishing fourth at 7-under. He was three shots behind the winner, Wallace State's Sylas Elliot. Kerry Sweeney, from Eastern Florida, finished third at 9-under, followed another shot back by Wallace State's Eli Marty.

Gulf Coast, ranked third in the Bushnell Golfweek Preseason NJCAA Division II Coaches Poll, finished 11 shots under par, ahead of Eastern Florida (-6) and Darton (-3). Eleven teams competed at the par-72 Cullman Golf Course.

George Kawell made a late charge to draw Gulf Coast closer to the lead, finishing birdie-eagle. He shot 215, good for 1-under par. Grant Motter finished even, with Michael Hendrickson at 2-over, Colin Troxler at 4-over and Wyatt Adkison at 12-over.

Gulf Coast begins MACJC play Sept. 12 at Eagle Ridge Golf Course at Raymond, an event hosted by Hinds. It will be a two-day, 36-hole event.