State Men Head Into Blessings Collegiate Invitational Alongside Bulldog Women

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – One of the most unique events on the collegiate golf calendar returns this week as Mississippi State's men's and women's programs prepare to tee off at the Blessings Collegiate Invitational.

Hosted by Arkansas, the Blessings crowns an individual men's and women's champion, a men's and women's team champion, a combined team champion and an individual best-ball champion. In the best-ball format, each men's player is paired with a women's player, and they count they best score between them on each hole to determine their pairing's score and name a champion duo. The Bulldog women won the event in 2022, and State's Julia Lopez Ramirez and William Wann won the combined best-ball title that same year.

Additionally, rather than the traditional tee time format that sees each golfer paired with two individuals from other teams, all five Bulldog men will tee off together and play the same holes together in a fivesome. State is slated to tee off at 9:30 a.m. CT on Monday morning.

"This is a great event on a very challenging golf course," head men's coach Dusty Smith said. "This event is unique in that you are paired with your entire team throughout the tournament. I think it's a great way to learn more about your team and for the team to be able to create momentum during the round. This week is all about great body language, great attitudes, being together as a team and playing with confidence and discipline."

Smith will roll with the same five golfers that he penciled on his lineup in the Bulldogs' last outing at the Valero Texas Collegiate. Garett Endicott remains in the No. 1 position for the third straight tournament. Josep Serra climbs to the No. 2 position after proving to be State's top finisher last time out. Ugo Malcor and Dain Richie land in the Nos. 3 and 4 position. Both have been in the lineup for every event. Drew Wilson, who made his season debut in MSU's previous tournament, will retain his spot in the lineup as the fifth man.

Serra finished tied for 19th at TPC San Antonio last week after shooting a pair of 2-under rounds. Malcor was at one point among the top 10 in the field during that event, and the opening day saw MSU shoot its second-best team round of the season and lowest round against par this year. Wilson finished just one stroke over par with a 73 in his final round.

Live results for the Blessings Collegiate Invitational will be available on Scoreboard powered by Clippd.

For more information on the Bulldog men's golf program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateMG."

State Men Head Into Blessings Collegiate Invitational Alongside Bulldog Women

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Players Mentioned

Ugo Malcor

Dain Richie

Josep Serra

Drew Wilson

Mississippi State University Athletics