No. 3 Bulldogs sweep Jim Redgate
No. 3 Mississippi Gulf Coast got back in winning mode Tuesday, sweeping team and individual titles at the Jim Redgate Invitational in Meridian.
The Bulldogs beat the host Eagles by 20 shots, adding four shots to their advantage in the final round at Briarwood Golf Club. Paul Hoefer (Fr., Heidelberg, Germany/Kurpfalzgymnasium Mannheim) made two clutch chips down the stretch and claimed medalist in a three-man playoff.
"We played really well," Gulf Coast coach Brad Thornton said. "The course conditions stayed tough, and I was really, really pleased with our entire roster. Four guys having a chance coming down the stretch to win the golf tournament is great, and we had one of them step up and do it, but it was a good team performance this week."
Hoefer, who charged to a 3-under finish, was one of four Bulldogs to make the All-Tournament Team. Craig Bullock (Fr., Ripley /Ripley), Logan Jensen (Fr., Diamondhead/Hancock) and Matthew Bond (Fr., Ocean Springs/Ocean Springs) were only one shot out of the playoff tied for fourth.
Noah Peters (Fr., London, England/Croxley Dane's School), who played as an individual, finished 12th at 3-over, and Jayden Owensby (Fr., Hernando/Hernando) was 4-over and meaning all six Bulldogs were in the top 15.
"We played some really good golf in spurts throughout the month of September," Thornton said. "Getting into October and finally having it come together is pretty rewarding. Good for them."
Hoefer birdied three of the last four holes to surge into the playoff mix. On 18, he chipped in from just off the green. On the second playoff hole, he did it again.
"They were almost the same place. I might've already planned it on the second time to hit there," he joked. "It was two good chips. In those moments, there was some luck and a lot of practice."
The Bulldogs will be back in action later this month when they host the Charles Cooper Classic. The 54-hole non-conference event will be played Oct. 27-28 at Windance Country Club.
Team scores |
|
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| 1. Gulf Coast | 278-289—567 (-10) |
| 2. Meridian | 295-292—587 (+11) |
| 3. Jones | 294-296—590 (+14) |
| 4. Hinds | 308-294—602 (+26) |
| 5. Northwest Mississippi | 308-301—609 (+33) |
| 6. Pearl River | 305-314—619 (+43) |
| 7. East Central | 309-311—620 (+44) |
| 8. East Mississippi | 317-304—621 (+45) |
| 9. Itawamba | 318-309—627 (+51) |
| T10. Southwest Mississippi | 321-310—631 (+55) |
| T10. Copiah-Lincoln | 313-318—631 (+55) |
MGCCC scores |
|
| Player | Score |
|---|---|
| 1. Paul Hoefer | 71-70—141 (-3) |
| T4. Logan Jensen | 68-74—142 (-2) |
| T4. Craig Bullock | 68-74—142 (-2) |
| T4. Matthew Bond | 71-71—142 (-2) |
| 12. Noah Peters | 75-72—147 (+3) |
| T14. Jayden Owensby | 73-75—148 (+4) |
For more information on MGCCC's 12 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.
