MSU Linksters Tee Off Postseason At SEC Championship
"This will be all of our guys first Southeastern Conference Championship," said head coach Clay Homan. "We look forward to ending the year on a positive note."
The Bulldog linksters are coming off its regular season finale at the Bancorp South Intercollegiate in Madison, Miss., where State posted a 906 and was led by State junior Evan Hugall. This will be the 46th time MSU has competed in the SEC Championship, winning it twice in 1996 & '97. Coach Homan has coached the Bulldogs in the SEC Championship six times, with his best finish coming in 2008 with a fifth-place outcome.
The entire Bulldog lineup will be making their conference championship debut, led by true freshman Robi Calvesbert, who has been MSU's top finisher a team-best four times and is State's leader in second-round stroke average (73.7). In his last outing at the Bancorp South Intercollegiate, Calvesbert was MState's leader in birdies made with eight.
The Bulldogs' Hugall is making his third-straight appearance for MSU. Hugall averages 75.7 strokes per 18 holes and posted a career-best 223 tournament score in his last outing at the Bancorp South Intercollegiate. State sophomore Brad Thompson is playing in his seventh-straight tournament , while boasting a spring stroke average of 75.9.
MSU sophomore Lee Heaton has been active in every tournament of the season for the Bulldogs and will continue that streak at the SEC Championship. Heaton is the leader in Bulldog stroke average, averaging 74 strokes per 18 holes, while also leading State in first-round stroke average (73.8). Heaton has been MState's top finisher three times this season and has registered three top 20 finishes and one top 10 finish. True freshman Brad Thompson rounds out the Bulldog lineup, making his 10th appearance for the Maroon and White. Mason is MSU's leader in third-round stroke average (73.1) and was tied for State's top finisher at the Furman Intercollegiate, where he registered his first career top 20 finish.
Three separate rounds of 18 holes will be played in consecutive days beginning on Friday, Apr. 16 and conclude on Sunday Apr. 18. State will tee off tomorrow from the 10th hole at 7 a.m. CT alongside Arkansas and Tennessee. Live stats and final results will be available on www.mstateathletics.com.