Golf Dawgs Dominant on Desert Mountain Day One

Saturday, March 9

Scottsdale, Ariz. (Outlaw GC)

All Day

Mississippi State

Desert Mountain Intercollegiate

Credit: John Weast

Golf Dawgs Dominant on Desert Mountain Day One

March 09, 2019 | Men's Golf

Golfstat

By Austin Coats, Student Assistant/Communications

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Sunday could be a big day for the Mississippi State men's golf team.

The Golf Dawgs have given themselves an 11-stroke lead over the rest of the field at the Desert Mountain Intercollegiate after two rounds of play Saturday. State also placed three golfers in the top 10 on the player leaderboard in overall leader Ford Clegg and juniors Garrett Johnson and Peng Pichaikool.

Should State keeps its leads following third-round play on Sunday, it would be the program's first team tournament victory since the Reunion Intercollegiate in 2014 and the first individual medalist since Taylor Bibbs won the USA Individual in 2017.

The final round from the par-72, 7,107-yard Desert Mountain Outlaw Course will begin Sunday at 9:30 a.m. CT, with MSU beginning from the first-hole tee at 10:24 a.m. CT. Live results will be available via Golfstat.com.

"I'm really proud of how we played today," Dusty Smith, "We got off to a terrible start as a team, but we were able to weather the storm and turn things around."

"Tomorrow will be a great opportunity for this group and I am so excited to watch them compete. We need to play as a team and play for the team, everything else will take care of itself."

Clegg carded a 9-under-135 total for the two rounds, with a 68 and 67, good for a three-shot lead going into the final round. In round two, the freshman collected three consecutive birdies on holes 10 through 12, then cared an eagle by finishing the par-5 13th in three shots.

"I started slow with a bogey and a double bogey early," Clegg said. "Then, coach Smith told me there was a lot of golf left to play and that I just needed to give myself some opportunities. I made a few putts to gain momentum and then let that momentum fuel the rest of my game throughout the day."

Johnson shot a career-low 66 in the opening round, after which he had a one-stroke lead. The junior played an even second round to sit tied for second place with a 6-under-par total.

"I felt great out there today," Johnson said, "I had complete confidence in what I had been working on for the two weeks leading up to this, and it finally showed today."

Peng Pichaikool benefitted from a strong second round, in which he shot a 4-under-68. Combined with a first-round 71, the 24th-ranked golfer via Golfstat.com took a share of sixth after day one.

Clegg, Johnson and Pichaikool each picked up 12 birdies Saturday to lead the field.

Senior Ross Bell played his way into the top 15 with a 73 and 72 to finish 1-over-par and tied for 14th.

As a team, State struggled early as it shot 5-over-par on the portion of the front nine it began on because of a shotgun start. However, the Golf Dawgs rallied to card an 8-under-280. MSU improved by one shot in the second round with a 279.

In the two rounds, Mississippi State posted 51 birdies, 14 more than any other team.

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 how we played today. We got off to a terrible start as a team, but we were able to weather the storm and turn things around. I told [assistant coach Charlie Ewing] about five holes in that we would find out what we are made of and what kind of character we have on this team. Everyone did a great job battling all day. Tomorrow will be a great opportunity for this group, and I am so excited to watch them compete. We need to play as a team and play for the team, everything else will take care of itself."

Freshman Ford Clegg:

"I started slow with a bogey and a double bogey early. Then, coach Smith told me there was a lot of golf left to play and that I just needed to give myself some opportunities. I made a few putts to gain momentum and then let that momentum fuel the rest of my game throughout the day."

Junior Garrett Johnson:

"I felt great out there today. I had complete confidence in what I had been working on for the two weeks leading up to this, and it finally showed today. Throughout the whole first round I was in a zone that I had been in at the Florida Gators Invitational, but I let it slip away at the Gator Invite. I was not going to let that happen again. I took what I learned from my experience at the Gator Invite and was able to use it today when I got in the same position. It means a lot to shoot my career-best round at such an amazing course with such great views. I'm going to try and go out there and do the same thing tomorrow. We will see where we stand at the end of the day. Hail State!"