Bulldogs Claim Roadrunner Intercollegiate Championship

SAN ANTONIO – The Mississippi State men's golf team claimed their first tournament championship since the 2006 fall season Tuesday, winning the Roadrunner Intercollegiate after a three-round score of 864 at the par-71 Oak Hills Country Club.

The Bulldogs had not won a tournament championship since the Callis Communications Intercollegiate in fall 2006, and has now won three tournaments overall in the Clay Homan era.

In round one this week, MState shot an 8-over-par 292 and stood in fifth place. The Bulldogs then rebounded in round two, firing a 275 - the fourth lowest round in school history - and moved into first place. The Bulldogs maintained the top position in round three after notching a 297, beating runner-up Texas Tech by nine strokes.

"We did not play as well today but the wind had a large role in that," said Homan. "We were able to hang in there and we did what we had to do to earn this win."

MSU's Noah Goldman claimed the individual championship of the event after a 1-under-par, three-round score of 212. The Longwood, Fla., native also notched a career-low, one-round score of 64 in round two.

"The second round really helped Noah (Goldman) and helped our team out," said Homan. "Noah was able to hang in there in the third round and pick up the individual title."

Senior Josh Oller tied for fifth after shooting 1-over-par with a 214, including a career-low 68 in round two. Senior Jake Lambert finished 11th with a 5-over-par 218, including a 1-under-par performance in round two. Junior Josh Bevell shot consistent rounds of 75, 74 and 72 for an 8-over-par showing. Junior Matt Fast tallied a 76, 73 and 80 through three rounds for the Bulldogs.

Runner-up Texas Tech finished nine strokes behind MSU with an 873, followed by Oklahoma with an 874. Wichita State tallied a score of 875 followed by Louisiana-Monroe going 29-over-par. Rounding out the field was Sam Houston State, Air Force, DePaul, host Texas-San Antonio, Central Arkansas, Stephen F. Austin State, Illinois State, Texas State, Marshall, Rhode Island, Texas-San Antonio (B-Team) and McNeese State.

MSU will resume competition on March 2 when the Bulldogs will travel to Tallahassee, Fla., to compete in the Seminole Intercollegiate.

Team Results
1.Mississippi State U. 292-275-297=864, +12 2. Texas Tech U. 286-287-300=873, +21 3. Oklahoma, U. of 291-297-286=874, +22 4. Witchita State U. 288-298-289=875, +23 5. Louisiana-Monroe, U. of 289-299-293=881, +29 6. Sam Houston State U. 300-285-302=887, +35 7. Air Force Academy 303-301-284=888, +36 T8. Texas-San Antonio, U. of 303-287-300=890, +38 T8. DePaul U. 303-299-288=890, +38 T10. Central Arkansas 305-290-301=896, +44 T10. Stephen F. Austin State 301-297-298=896, +44 12. Illinois State U. 302-302-300=904, +52 T13. Marshall U. 311-298-299=908, +56 T13. Texas State U. 306-299-303=908, +56 15. Rhode Island, U. of 305-303-312=920, + 68 16. Texas-San Antonio, U. of (B-Team) 326-296-299=921, +69 17. McNeese State U. 326-302-303=931, +79

MSU Individual Results
1 Noah Goldman 73-64-75=212, -1
T5 Josh Oller 71-68-75=214, +1
11 Jake Lambert 73-70-75=218, +5
T18 Josh Bevell 75-74-72=221, +8
T53 Matt Fast 76-73-80=229, +16

Fallen Oak to Host Second Annual Governor's Cup

The Mississippi Development Authority has announced that Fallen Oak Golf Course at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi will host the 2nd Annual Governor's Cup of Mississippi Golf Tournament on Monday, May 7.

The inaugural Governor's Cup tournament was held last year at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss. It raised more than $300,000 for the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund, Inc. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, this year's host, is underwriting the entire tournament cost to allow for 100 percent of the proceeds raised by the tournament to go directly to the Boys and Girls Clubs on the Gulf Coast.

The Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established by Governor Haley Barbour, is presenting the tournament. The fund has raised more than $32 million from individuals, organizations, and corporations to provide recovery assistance for the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Governor Barbour will be this year's tournament chairman, while Fallen Oak's designer Tom Fazio, a longtime charitable contributor to the Boys and Girls Clubs, will serve as the co-chair.

"South Mississippi's efforts to recover from Hurricane Katrina have attracted many partners who are putting their time, efforts and money into helping," Governor Haley Barbour said. "I am grateful to Tom Fazio and Beau Rivage for their very generous support for the Boys and Girls Club on the Coast through the Governor's Cup golf tournament, and I applaud the continuing excellent work of the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund in tending to so many pressing needs. We have a strong team whose significant contributions are deeply appreciated."

"We are very proud that Fallen Oak and the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino are hosting this wonderful event and I look forward to assisting as co-chair," said Fazio. "I have been involved with Boys and Girls Clubs for many years and I truly believe in the impact we can have on the lives of young people. Events like this further that cause and I am proud to be a part of it. The Fallen Oak course is truly spectacular and the participants in the Governor's Cup are in for a memorable golf experience."

"Beau Rivage is honored to host this prestigious tournament in support of the Boys and Girls Clubs on the Gulf Coast," said Beau Rivage President George Corchis. "This will be the first charitable tournament held at Fallen Oak, and who better to team up with than the Governor of our great state of Mississippi, and Tom Fazio, arguably the world's greatest living golf course designer."

Fallen Oak. Later that evening, Marsha Barbour will host the First Lady's Reception in Beau Rivage's Magnolia Ballroom to honor players and guests. On May 7, limousine transportation will take participants to the course for breakfast and an 18-hole shamble, followed by an Awards Reception in the Fallen Oak clubhouse.

The tournament is limited to 18 teams with five players apiece. Entry fee for the Governor’s Cup is $3,000 per player. For more information, call 228-265-2971. For details about Fallen Oak, visit www.beaurivage.com.

Hock Takes Playoff; Wins Back-To-Back On Champions Tour

Naples, FL (AHN) - Scott Hoch made an eight-foot birdie putt on No.18 to force a four-hole playoff, then rolled in another eight-footer on the first playoff hole to win The ACE Group Classic for his second straight Champions Tour victory on Sunday.

The 52-year-old Hoch picked up the top prize of $240,000 a week after winning the Allianze Championship in Boca Raton. He now has three Senior titles. He won 11 times over a 25-year PGA career.

Hoch, Tom Jenkins, Tom Kite and Brad Bryant all finished regulation at 14-under par 202. Jenkins, Kite and Bryant had all made pars on No. 18 before Hoch made his birdie.

On the playoff hole, Jenkins and Kite both missed chip shots after going over the green. Bryant lipped out a birdie putt.

Said Hoch, "I just said, 'Let's end it here. I don't want to play anymore. Anything else could happen."

Heading to the golf courses of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida? Play the I-10 trail

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Interstate 10 along the Gulf Coast can be a pretty boring drive at times. Even roadside billboards and exit signs stand out against the often generic and dreary scenery.

If you're making that drive into Florida golf country from the west - or the opposite direction for that matter - you can break up the drudgery by playing some excellent Florida golf courses without straying too far off your original itinerary.

As I-10 cuts through the southern portion of the Gulf Coast states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, we recommend you stop awhile, pull on your soft cleats and play these courses.

Louisiana golf courses off I-10

Lake Charles: Gray Plantation, a classic on the banks of the Calcasieu River, was designed by Rocky Roquemore and ranked No. 3 on Golf Digest's list of Americas Best new courses in 2000.

"It's scenic, strategic and fun and fair, just to name a few of its outstanding characteristics," said TravelGolf.com's Jason Scott in a review.

Lafayette: Oakbourne Country Club is a private facility so you'll need either a reciprocal arrangement with your own club or know a member. It will be worth the trouble because this is one of the best courses in the state, with fast, undulating greens, well-protected by bunkers. Tight, tree-lined fairways and water hazards on half the holes provide one of the better challenges in Louisiana.

Mississippi golf courses on I-10

I-10 runs on roughly a parallel course just north of the Mississippi "Golf Coast," as some like to call it. You pretty much have your choice of some good greater Biloxi golf courses, but here are three you won't be disappointed in.

Tee times: (866) 813-7494 or (251) 243-7977 Gulf Coast golf packages

Saucier: Grand Bear Golf Course takes up about 600 acres, with many of the fairways banked and with large mounds around the greens, amid the 1,750 acres of deep woods surrounding it.

"When they built it, they told [Jack] Nicklaus, 'we've got 1,700 acres, take what you want'," Head Pro Mike Buckley said. "And he did."

He chose wisely, The course rolls and dips, with swales and hollows, and has some decent elevation changes, atypical for this part of the world. It's an idyllic setting, with excellent movement on the course, which plays through pine and hardwood. There is water, but not a ton of it.

The fairways are tree-lined and wide, showing off one of Nicklaus' favorite themes - multiple routes to the green.

Ocean Springs: The Preserve Golf Club takes up 245 acres, but it is surrounded by more than 1,800 acres of preserve, the Sandhill Crane Refuge and Conservancy. Old Fort Bayou flows at the eastern edge of the course.

This is basically wilderness with golf clubs, and it isn't unusual to see deer, hawks and, of course, cranes, since they have standing reservations.

It was designed by former U.S. Open champ Jerry Pate, who also did Kiva Dunes and co-designed Mississippi's Dancing Rabbitt with Tom Fazio.

Gautier: Shell Landing is one of the top-tier courses in the Biloxi area. A Davis Love III work that incorporates large, contoured greens - averaging about 12,000 square feet - with arguably more undulation than any greens around.

It's a visually appealing course, with terrific marsh views, and the fairways have excellent movement. There are quite a few trees, but most of them are around the perimeter so that the course has an open, airy feel.

Alabama golf courses on I-10

Mobile: Magnolia Grove is a two-course facility and part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.

Both of these courses are tough. The Crossings is a shot-makers' course and the Falls is longer and not quite as hilly, though it requires more forced carries.

MSU Tees Off Spring Season With Third Place Finish

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Mississippi State men's golf team began the fall season with a third place finish at the SunTrust Gator Invitational in Gainesville, Fla. MSU ended the fall with back-to-back runner-up finishes, making this their third-straight top-three finish for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs ended the first round with a 288 and in a tie for 10th place and followed with a 5-under-par 275 in the second round improving to sixth place on Saturday. On Sunday, Mstate notched a 1-under-par 279 to close out the three-round event, finishing in third place among the 14-team field, which included nine teams ranked in the top 50 in Golfstat (determines postseason play).

"I am very satisfied with how we performed in the Invitational against a very tough field," said Head Coach Clay Homan. "We were able to beat three top 25 teams (Duke, Wake Forest and Mississippi) and get a good start to our spring season."

MSU was led by the junior duo of Carlos Sainz, Jr. and Noah Goldman who both finished in a tie for 12th at 1-under-par through three rounds. It was the third time this year Goldman had claimed MSU's top spot and the first time for Sainz, Jr. Sainz, Jr. shot a 4-over-par in the first round and rebounded in round two with a 66, which ties several other individuals as the second lowest one-round score for the weekend. The Elgin, Ill. native closed the weekend out with a 1-under-par performance in round three, including an impressive 4-under-par back nine which included MSU's only eagle in the invitational on hole 14. Goldman fired two rounds of 71 mixed with a 3-under-par 67 for the weekend. Senior Josh Oller also had a top 20 finish, as the Brandon, Miss. native tied for 19th individually after a 1-over-par 211 in three rounds of play. Oller also led the team with 10 birdies, four of which came from his 1-under-par second round. Senior Jake Lambert was competing in his first tournament of the year for MState, finishing fourth for the team after a 7-over-par performance that included a 3-under-par 67 in the final round of play which tied the low score for the day. Junior Josh Bevell notched a 227 in three rounds of play, as Bevell joins Sainz, Jr. as the only Bulldog golfer to compete in all six of the tournament thus far on the year.

"We were able to get solid and consistent play from most of our guys with a few key performances standing out," said Homan. "Jake's (Lambert) third round performance gave us a boost along with Carlos's (Sainz, Jr.) back-nine in round three. Noah (Goldman) and Josh Oller were consistent throughout the whole weekend."

Host-school Florida won the invitational with a 20-under-par showing, while Florida State finished second after an 8-under-par performance. UAB finished two strokes shy of MState with a 4-over-par 844 through three rounds, followed by South Alabama who shot 11-over 851. Duke, Wake Forest and LSU tied for sixth at 13-over-par with Coastal Carolina trailing by three strokes at 9th. Georgia Southern finished 10th at 21-over-par followed by in-state rival Mississippi who shot 22-over-par. North Florida, South Florida and Georgia State rounded out the field.

MSU will return to competition next Monday, February 18, 2008 in San Antonio, Texas at the Roadrunner Intercollegiate.

Team Results:
1.Florida, U. of 269-273-278=820, -20 2. Florida State U. 278-276-278, -8 3. Mississippi State U. 288-275-279=842, +2 4. UAB 276-280-288=844, +4 5. South Alabama, U. of 283-282-286=851, +11 T6. Duke U. 289-281-283=853, +13 T6. Wake Forest 288-278-287-852, +13 T6. Louisiana State U. 283-279-291=853, +13 9. Coastal Carolina 283-283-290=856, +16 10. Georgia Southern 287-282-292=861, +21 11. Mississippi, U. of 280-281-301=862, +22 12. North Florida, U. of 284-286-295=865, +25 13. South Florida, U. of 291-294-288=873, +33 14. Georgia State U. 290-290-308=888, +48

Individual Results:
T12 Carlos Sainz, Jr. 74-66-69=209, -1
T12 Noah Goldman 71-67-71=209, -1
T19 Josh Oller 70-69-72=211, +1
T38 Jake Lambert 77-73-67-217, +7
T66 Josh Bevell 73-74-80=227, +17

Rebel Golfers In Fourth At Gator Invitational

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Ole Miss men’s golf team fired rounds of 280 and 281 on the first day of the SunTrust Gator Invitational Saturday and stands in fourth place heading into the final round at the Par 70, 6,701-yard University Golf Course.

With their 561 the Rebels trail second-place Florida State (554) by seven shots and third-place UAB (556) by five. The host Gators blistered the course in the first round and lead the field with a 542.

Freshman Jonathan Randolph carded a 69-70—139 to lead the Rebels. Junior Jesse Speirs fired a 69-71—140, senior Kyle Ellis shot a 71-70—141, David Marino posted a 75-70—145, and freshman Chris Mullhaupt finished with a 71-79—150.

“We were a little nervous when we got off to a poor start,” head coach Ernest Ross said. “We played solid all day, but not great. My compliments to Kyle Ellis, who was three over after three holes in the second round and brought it back to even par. Jonathan Randolph played well to lead us. We believe we can play better and that we have more left in us.

“The course is playing great, and the weather is perfect. We are going out there tomorrow to try and move up and record a top finish in an elite field with so many ranked teams.”

Seven of the 14 teams in the field are ranked in the top 30. The Rebels, ranked No. 20 by Golfstat, will tee off Sunday morning beginning at 7:45 CT seeking their fifth consecutive top-five finish of the year. Ole Miss won its final three tournaments of the fall.

SUNTRUST GATOR INVITATIONAL –GAINESVILLE, Fla.

TEAM STANDINGS

1. Florida   269-273--542  

2. Florida State            278-276--554  

3. UAB                       276-280--556  

4. OLE MISS                  280-281--561  

5. LSU                       283-279--562  

6. Mississippi State        288-275--563  

7. South Alabama            283-282--565  

T8. Wake Forest             288-278--566  

T8. Coastal Carolina         283-283--566  

10. Georgia Southern         287-282--569  

T11. Duke                    289-281--570  

T11. North Florida          284-286--570  

13. Georgia State            290-290--580  

14. South Florida            291-294--585  

INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS

T15. Jonathan Randolph      69-70—139                   

T21. Jesse Speirs            69-71—140

T27. Kyle Ellis              71-70—141

T49. David Marino            75-70—145

T66. Chris Mullhaupt  71-79—150