No. 18 State Shows Strong Finish At Watersound Invitational

Tuesday, February 18

Panama City Beach, Fla. (Shark's Tooth GC)

Mississippi State

Watersound Invitational

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - September 30, 2024 - Mississippi State's Josep Serra during the Blessings Collegiate Invitational at Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, AR. Photo By Wesley Hitt

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

No. 18 State Shows Strong Finish At Watersound Invitational

February 19, 2025 | Men's Golf

By: Daniel Black, Student Assistant/Communications

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – No. 18 Mississippi State put together its best 36 holes of the Watersound Invitational on Tuesday to finish sixth. The Bulldogs continued their trend of placing in the top 10 of all events this season.

"I thought we did a good job battling today and taking advantage of some good scoring opportunities," head coach Dusty Smith said after the final round. "I thought we played some really steady golf and had all five guys, which helped us shoot a low score. We need to do a better job of getting outside our comfort zone, especially when there are good birdie opportunities. Sometimes we get comfortable being a few under par, but we need to learn how to step on the gas and take it even lower. Overall, I'm very pleased with the week and look forward to watching this team continue to grow."

The Dawgs improved all three rounds, led by Dain Richie and Josep Serra. Following a team-best 1-under 71 on Monday, Richie followed suit with an even-par 72 in the second round and a bogey-free round of 70 to conclude the event. He tied for 14th, his best finish in the Maroon and White.

Serra saved his best golf for Tuesday, firing rounds of 3-under 69 and 1-under 71. The senior from Spain carded four birdies in his second round and three in his final round, jumping up 14 spots from Monday to earn his third top-20 finish of the season with a tie for 14th.

Garrett Endicott shot a second round of 3-under 69 with five birdies, ultimately winding up tied for 30th. Ugo Malcor and Drew Wilson both shot great final rounds—Malcor led the team with a 3-under 69, birdieing two of his last three holes. Wilson concluded his event with a 2-under 70, carding birdies on two of his last four holes.

The Dawgs will be back in action March 8-9 at the Desert Mountain Collegiate in Scottsdale, Ariz.

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