Johnson Leads State To Fourth In OWCC Final Round

Tuesday, April 17

West Point, Miss. (Old Waverly GC)

All Day

Mississippi State

Old Waverly Collegiate

Johnson Leads State To Fourth In OWCC Final Round

April 17, 2018 | Men's Golf

Stats

WEST POINT, Miss. – A career performance from Garrett Johnson helped the Mississippi State men's golf team claim a fourth-place finish following Tuesday's final round of the Old Waverly Collegiate Championship at Old Waverly Golf Club.

MSU struggled at the start of the day, but Johnson answered and went 5-under on the back nine with an eagle and three birdies to finish the 54-hole event tied for fifth at 2-under.

"It feels great to be able to shoot a low round for my team," Johnson said. "The eagle was great and it gave me tons of confidence going into the last three holes."

"I'm really proud of our battle today," MSU men's golf coach Dusty Smith said. "We struggled early on but our guys showed a lot of resiliency and were able to finish strong.

The Bulldogs finished their regular season with four-consecutive Top 5 finishes.

Johnson's 68 tied his career-best, previously set in October. Johnson played 26-straight holes without a bogey coming into the day, which he stretched to 29-straight on the front nine.

"I am really proud of Garrett," Smith said. "He played a huge back 9 for us when we really needed it."

Freshman Cameron Clarke helped the Bulldogs finish the event at even par by following a second-round 73 with a 71 (-1) on Tuesday.

"Cameron showed a lot of heart after his opening round and played a solid one for the team today," Smith said.

Senior Taylor Bibbs contributed a 73 to the Bulldog scorecard and ended up at 6-over for a share of 22nd.

Senior Taylor Grant and sophomore Peng Pichaikool each shot a 76 on Tuesday to tie for 24^th position.

LSU was the only team to put up an under-par score for all three rounds and took the team title. Ole Miss' Braden Thornberry spaced himself in the final round and took the individual trophy by five strokes.

Freshman Hunter Hammett had the best score of State's six individual players, and the second-best of any Bulldog. He shot even in the final round to close tied for 61st at 5-over.

Seniors Grant, Bibbs and Jacob Ross played their final Old Waverly rounds as Bulldogs.

With regular season play in the books, State attention turns to the SEC Championship April 25-29 at Sea Island Course in St. Simons Island, Ga.

For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the program on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching @HailStateMG.

MSU men's golf coach Dusty Smith:

"I'm really proud of our battle today. We struggled early on but our guys showed a lot of resiliency and were able to finish strong. This was a character week for this group. We talked last night that our only focus will be being the toughest and most disciplined team out there today. I think they did just that. I am really proud of Garrett. He played a huge back 9 for us when we really needed it. Cameron showed a lot of heart after his opening round and played a solid one for the team today. Championship season is here and the SEC Championship is our next step. We will grow from this week and make sure we are prepared for next week. This is a hungry group and I can't wait to watch them compete."

Sophomore Garrett Johnson:

"It feels great to be able to shoot a low round for my team. It meant more to me to be able to play well for my team. The birdie on 10 is what set me up for the back nine because I knew 11-13 were going to be playing into the wind and tougher than usual. My goal was to get through those three holes at even par and I achieved that. The eagle was great and it gave me tons of confidence going into the last three holes. I knew I needed a strong finish for my team and I was able to knock in a long one on 18 to cap off the round."

Old Waverly Collegiate Championship
1. LSU (287+291+277=855, -9)
2. South Florida (286+297+285=868, +4)
3. Ole Miss (284+289+297=870, +6)
4. Mississippi State (296+290+288=874, +10)
5. Lipscomb (291+299+288=878, +14)
6. Coastal Carolina (299+295+287=881, +17)
7. ULM (300+293+292=885, +21)
8. South Alabama (293+295+300=888, +24)
9. Memphis (316+306+286=908, +44)
10. Chattanooga (306+307+296=909, +45)
11. Louisiana (318+304+292=914, +50)
12. McNeese (299+303+316=918, +55)
13. Little Rock (308+309+302=919, +55)
14. Southern Miss (314+303+305=922, +58)
15. Louisiana Tech (309+314+301=924, +60)

MSU Players
T5. Garrett Johnson (75+71+68=214, -2)
T22. Taylor Bibbs (73+76+73=222, +6)
T24. Peng Pichaikool (73+74+76=223, +7)
T24. Taylor Grant (75+72+76=223, +7)
T37. Cameron Clarke (83+73+71=227, +11)

MSU Individuals
T16. Hunter Hammett (75+74+72=221, +5)
T24. Ross Bell (72+80+71=223, +7)
T46. Austin Fulton (73+80+76=229, +13)
T57. Austin Rose (79+77+75=231, +15)
T71. Jacob Ross (80+76+79=235, +19)
T71. Griffin Agent (81+77+77=235, +19)?