Summer Golf Notebook
July 18, 2011 | Men's Golf, Women's Golf
STARKVILLE, Miss. - With the Mississippi State men's and women's golf seasons fast approaching, many Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs enjoy success in the summer. Here is an update on the Bulldog golf programs.
Phase I of Practice Facility Nearing Completion
Phase I of the Bulldog golf programs' new outdoor practice facility at the Mississippi State Golf Course is nearing completion. With only a few aesthetic touchups to be completed, the facility will be available for the linksters and lady linksters to begin fall practice.
Phase II of the project is in development and includes an indoor, team-only building that will house locker rooms, putting and chipping greens, and video swing analysis equipment.
Calvesbert Wins Puerto Rico Amateur Championship
Rising Bulldog junior Robi Calvesbert won the Puerto Rico Amateur Championship at the Palmas Athletic Club on the Flamboyan Course.
Calvesbert fired a 1-under-par 71 on Sunday, June 12th, to clinch the title. He finished with a four-day total of 295.
Homan Wins Mississippi State Amateur Again
Seventeen years after winning his first State Amateur Title, Clay Homan once again claimed the crown on June 13 at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point. This is Homan's third State Am title.
Entering the back nine, Homan trailed Bulldog linkster Alex Rowland. Four strokes off the lead, Homan birdied No. 13, eagled No. 15 and birdied the 16th to finish tied with Rowland.Â
Homan dealt Rowland the defeat on the first playoff hole and finished with a four-day total of 6-under-par 282.
MSU Golf Programs Place 12 On SEC Academic Honor Roll
The Mississippi State men's and women's golf programs combined to place 12 players on the 2011 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Brooks Bankhead, Robi Calvesbert, John Darden, Mike Genovese, Brad Hugall, Brad Mason, Alex Rowland and Brad Thompson received the honors for the men's team, while Mallory Batson, Perry Katherine Furr, Maria Roos and Erika Thornton represented the lady linksters.
Men's Duos Post Great Finishes at Spirit of America
With two teams in the Spirit of America Tournament, Mississippi State earned second- and fifth-place finishes in a 24-team field. Held at Burningtree Country Club in Decatur, Ala., the four-day event hosted top college duos in a mid-summer showdown.
Representing MSU on the second-place team was rising sophomore Chad Ramey and incoming freshman Fletcher Johnson. Ramey posted a 1-over-par 285 (T12th), while Johnson kept pace with a 3-over-par 287 (T17th).
On the Maroon and White's second team, junior John Darden matched Johnson's 287, and sophomore Barrett Edens carded an 8-over-par 292 (T24th).
Ramey Claims Greenwood Invitational With An Eagle
Sophomore Bulldog Chad Ramey chipped in for an eagle on the first playoff hole to claim the Greenwood Invitational on July 10 in Greenwood, Miss.
Ramey stumbled out of the starting gates with a nine on the first hole but battled back to post a 1-under-par 71 in the final round. He carded a 9-under-par 207 for the three-day event.
Fellow Bulldog Barrett Edens tied for first-place in the first flight. Tyler Smith, Alex Rowland, Fletcher Johnson and coach Clay Homan also represented MSU in the Delta.
Bulldogs Qualify Three For Southern Amateur, Rowland Makes Cut
Three members of the Mississippi State men's golf team earned tee times at the Southern Amateur in Palm Harbor, Fla. Alex Rowland, Barrett Edens and Tyler Smith represented the Maroon and White in the eighth strongest amateur tournament in the world.
Rowland was one of only two Mississippians to make the cut at the event. Rowland finished tied for 35th, but reached as high as seventh after day two. The rising senior carded back-to-back 1-under-par 70's to begin the event followed by a 74 and 75 in the third and fourth rounds, respectively.
Sophomores Edens and Smith failed to make one of the toughest cuts in amateur golf.
Four Freshmen Make SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll
Being a new college student-athlete can be very demanding. The Mississippi State golf programs placed four individuals on SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll.
Axel Boasson, Tyler Smith, Mary Langdon Gallagher and Esther Huffman were lauded for their efforts in both the classroom and on the course.
Connell Enjoys Success At Viking Classic
Former Mississippi State Bulldog standout Michael Connell fired a four-round, 17-under-par 271 to finish tied for 13th at the Viking Classic at Annandale Golf Course in Madison.
Alex Rocha, Matt Fast and Greg Huxman also appeared in the event but did not make the cut, while former Georgia Bulldog Chris Kirk won the PGA event with a 22-under-par 266.
FURR PAIRS WITH HART TO WIN STATE FOUR BALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Lady Bulldog senior Perry Katherine Furr teamed up with Lou Hart to win the Mississippi Women's Golf Associations Four Ball Championship on July 20 at Tunica National Course in Tunica, Miss.
The win follows former Lady Bulldogs Leigh Phillips and Gina Sharp's title in 2010.
McDonald To Play In MWGA Amateur Championship
Incoming freshman Ally McDonald will play in the Mississippi Women's Golf Association's Girl's Junior Championship at Patrick Farms in Pearl beginning July 25.
McDonald has enjoyed success in the event for several years beginning with a 2006 win in the 13-15 year old age division. The Itawamba native continued her reign in 2007 by winning the 16-18 year old division. After finishing sixth in 2008, McDonald returned to form and finished second in 2009. Last year, she posted a two-stroke victory over fellow Lady Bulldog Esther Huffman.
McDonald Cruises To MWGA Amateur Championship
Firing a two-day, 8-under-par 136, incoming freshman Ally McDonald cruised to a 13-stroke victory on July 26 at Patrick Farm in Pearl, Miss.
McDonald fired an opening-round 69 to set the pace for the tournament field and followed with a 67 on day two.
This is her fourth win in the event since 2006 and second consecutive win.
Warren Posts Runner-Up Finsih At Texas State Junior Championship
Incoming Lady Bulldog Elena Warren notched a hole-in-one to post a runner-up finish in the Texas State Junior Championship on July 28 at the Slick Rock Course at the Horseshoe Bay Resort in Horseshoe Bay, Texas.
Warren is one of three incoming freshmen the Maroon and White have that are expected to make an immediate impact this fall. She was the face of her high school golf program and represented the city of Austin, Texas, in national events.
Homan Claims Mid-Amateur Championship Again
Despite the grueling temperatures at Dancing Rabbit Golf Club today, Clay Homan was able to charge up the leaderboard and capture another Mid Amateur title today.
Homan birded the 18th hole to finish with a one stroke victory in Philadelphia.
Bulldog Junior Calvesbert Propels Puerto Rico To RBC Caribbean Amateur Championship
Robi Calvesbert participated in the 55th RBC Caribbean Amateur Championship as Puerto Rico's number two player. The event was held at the Millennium Golf & Country Club in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago.
Calvesbert's four-day 293 propelled the five-man team to the Hoerman Cup. Calvesbert carded a 77 and 74 during the first two rounds before firing a 70 and 72 to clinch out the tournament.
