State Responds To An Auburn Loss With A Win Against Mizzou In Match Play
October 12, 2021 | Men's Golf
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Mississippi State men's golf team defeated Missouri, 4-1, to wrap up its time at the inaugural SEC Match Play at Shoal Creek Golf Club in Birmingham, Alabama. The Bulldogs also completed the final holes Monday's suspended match against Auburn, falling 4-0-1.  Â
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"I learned a lot about our team today against Missouri in our match today," head coach Dusty Smith said. "Guys played with great toughness and fought their way to a victory when it didn't look very good with five or so holes left in the match. Our goal was to gain valuable experience in match play this week, and I think we did that. We have a team motto that says, 'Better at the end.' I believe our team was better at the end today, which is what we want to be about."
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Across four matches in Birmingham, every Bulldog that competed won at least one match. State had a 2-2 record over the three-day event.Â
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Jay Nimmo went 3-1 at Shoal Creek while Pedro Cruz Silva and Hunter Logan each won two matches.Â
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On Tuesday morning, Ford Clegg, Logan and Cruz Silva completed their matches against Auburn. Before darkness paused play, Clegg was tied, Logan was down-1 and Cruz Silva was down-2 in their matches. The Bulldogs were unable to make a comeback, however, and fell to the Tigers.
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The Bulldogs bounced back against Missouri, teeing off on the back nine of Shoal Creek.Â
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Clegg started the match 2-down through four holes but holed out for an eagle on the 14th tee to bring himself back within striking distance. From there, he went on to win Hole 18 to tie up the match before putting for birdie on Hole 2 to take a 1-up lead. Clegg won his match against Missouri's Charlie Crockett, 2-and-1.
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Cruz Silva remained steady his entire match against Missouri's Jack Parker by taking the lead early at 2-up through three holes. He added a birdie on Hole 13 on his way to a 2-and-1 victory.Â
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Nimmo took on a battle against Missouri's Dagbjartur Sigurbrandsson. Nimmo lost the first two holes, but won Holes 12, 13, and 14 to take a 1-up lead. Sigurbrandsson responded to tie the match, but Nimmo eagled on Hole 6 and won Hole 7 to take a 2-up lead with two holes left to play. Sigurbrandsson didn't go down without a fight and won Hole 8 to bring Nimmo's score back down to 1-up, but it was too late for the Tiger. Nimmo finished 1-up for the Bulldogs.Â
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Loïc Ettlin came in clutch for the Bulldogs with a last-minute lead victory. Ettlin was even all the way through his match against Missouri's YuTa Tsai until Hole 7 where he secured a 1-up lead with two holes left to play. Ettlin shot par on Hole 18 to secure the final point for the Bulldogs with a 1-up victory.Â
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Logan was 1-up through the first three holes of his match but fell to Missouri's Jack Lundin 3-and-1.Â
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The Bulldogs will conclude their fall season at the Steelwood Collegiate on October 30-31. State will play at Steelwood Country Club in Loxley, Alabama for their fourth and final event of the fall.Â
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For more information on the Bulldogs, follow on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "HailStateMG."
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"I learned a lot about our team today against Missouri in our match today," head coach Dusty Smith said. "Guys played with great toughness and fought their way to a victory when it didn't look very good with five or so holes left in the match. Our goal was to gain valuable experience in match play this week, and I think we did that. We have a team motto that says, 'Better at the end.' I believe our team was better at the end today, which is what we want to be about."
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Across four matches in Birmingham, every Bulldog that competed won at least one match. State had a 2-2 record over the three-day event.Â
Â
Jay Nimmo went 3-1 at Shoal Creek while Pedro Cruz Silva and Hunter Logan each won two matches.Â
Â
On Tuesday morning, Ford Clegg, Logan and Cruz Silva completed their matches against Auburn. Before darkness paused play, Clegg was tied, Logan was down-1 and Cruz Silva was down-2 in their matches. The Bulldogs were unable to make a comeback, however, and fell to the Tigers.
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The Bulldogs bounced back against Missouri, teeing off on the back nine of Shoal Creek.Â
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Clegg started the match 2-down through four holes but holed out for an eagle on the 14th tee to bring himself back within striking distance. From there, he went on to win Hole 18 to tie up the match before putting for birdie on Hole 2 to take a 1-up lead. Clegg won his match against Missouri's Charlie Crockett, 2-and-1.
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Cruz Silva remained steady his entire match against Missouri's Jack Parker by taking the lead early at 2-up through three holes. He added a birdie on Hole 13 on his way to a 2-and-1 victory.Â
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Nimmo took on a battle against Missouri's Dagbjartur Sigurbrandsson. Nimmo lost the first two holes, but won Holes 12, 13, and 14 to take a 1-up lead. Sigurbrandsson responded to tie the match, but Nimmo eagled on Hole 6 and won Hole 7 to take a 2-up lead with two holes left to play. Sigurbrandsson didn't go down without a fight and won Hole 8 to bring Nimmo's score back down to 1-up, but it was too late for the Tiger. Nimmo finished 1-up for the Bulldogs.Â
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Loïc Ettlin came in clutch for the Bulldogs with a last-minute lead victory. Ettlin was even all the way through his match against Missouri's YuTa Tsai until Hole 7 where he secured a 1-up lead with two holes left to play. Ettlin shot par on Hole 18 to secure the final point for the Bulldogs with a 1-up victory.Â
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Logan was 1-up through the first three holes of his match but fell to Missouri's Jack Lundin 3-and-1.Â
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The Bulldogs will conclude their fall season at the Steelwood Collegiate on October 30-31. State will play at Steelwood Country Club in Loxley, Alabama for their fourth and final event of the fall.Â
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For more information on the Bulldogs, follow on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "HailStateMG."
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Players Mentioned
MEN'S GOLF | NCAA Post-Round 1 - 5/16/23
Tuesday, May 16
Dusty Smith Press Conference - 5/7/21
Friday, May 07
Ford Clegg OWCC
Friday, March 26
Garrett Johnson's OWCC Interview
Thursday, March 25