Bulldog Golf Travels To SEC Championship In Search Of Regional Bid
With a record of 68-62-3 on the season, the Bulldog need at least 72 wins to ensure an above .500 winning percentage that is required for an NCAA Regional bid.
"We are fully aware of what's on the line and what we have to do," MSU coach Clay Homan said. "Now, it is a matter of execution. We have to elevate our level of play top to bottom. I have confidence in our guys and look forward to what this weekend holds for us."
After beginning the year with eight straight Top 10 finishes, MSU slumped to 11th in the BancorpSouth Intercollegiate before notching an eighth-place finish at the Memphis Intercollegiate.
The field is as talent-packed as any tournament in the nation. Six of the 12 teams are in the Top 25: Auburn (No. 2), Alabama (No. 7), Arkansas (No. 9), LSU (No. 19), Florida (No. 22) and Georgia (No. 25). Tennessee and South Carolina are also in the Top 50 at 44 and 48, respectively.
Sophomore Chad Ramey will lead MSU's travel group of Alex Rowland, Axel Boasson, John Darden and Clay Bounds.
Ramey's 72.68 average card is on pace to be the seventh-lowest season scoring clip in Bulldog golf history. His 85 birdies and seven Top 25's are both team-bests.
Rowland produced one of the best weeks the Maroon and White program has seen when he claimed a share of the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate title and garnered SEC Golfer of the Week honors, the first time a Bulldog has won the award since 2006.
Boasson owns a 74.75 average card entering the weekend event. He notched his only Top 15 card of the season following a 147 in the Bridgestone Golf Collegiate. He turned in his season-low round of 67 in the season-opening Sam Hall Intercollegiate.
Making his sixth tournament of the season, Darden is only third to Ramey and Rowland in tourney appearances this year, while his 74.40 scoring average is also only third behind the same duo.
After transferring and sitting out the fall slate, Bounds is appearing in his fifth event.
Live stats will be available through HailState.com for each round. Tournament information can be found through the SEC website here.