Golf team members win All-American Team honors

Not only did the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College golf team finish fifth place at the NJCAA D-II Tournament last week in Indiana, five team members won All-American honors. Jared Smith, Brad Thornton, Marcus Fox, Jack Sargent and Drew Seals received the awards following the tournament.

Sophomore Jared Smith, who finished fourth individually, earned NJCAA All-American Honors, a spot on the All-Tournament team, the Ping All-American First Team squad and the Ping D-II Central Region All-American squad. Smith, who graduated from Gulf Coast in May, has committed to play golf at The University of Southern Mississippi beginning this fall. He plans to get his bachelor's degree in business. “I plan to stay wherever there’s golf going on,” he said. “Golf is really my passion, so I want to pursue it as far as it will get me and then use the degree afterward.”

Bulldog freshman Brad Thornton was 18th and also took home NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American honors. Gulf Coast sophomores Marcus Fox and Jack Sargent both tied for 32nd. Fox earned Ping All-American Second Team honors, while Fox, Drew Seals and Sargent were named to the Ping D-II Central Region All-American squad.

“I'm happy to have Brad back for the 2012-2013 season and hate to see the others leave,” said Coach Tommy Snell. “I know they will do well wherever they go because they are extremely talented and dedicated players.”

Snell said Fox has accepted a scholarship and will continue his golf career at Nicholls State in Louisiana. Seals will play for William Carey University, and Sargent signed to play with Delta State University.

Other members of the team who will go on to play golf at the university level include Rory Nelson and Michael Maley, who have signed with William Carey University, and Delton Pounds, who signed with Blue Mountain College.

Snell said the team has had a great year. “We finished undefeated in the MACJC Conference, and with the depth that's evident in NJCAA D-II, finishing fifth in the nation is a great accomplishment for our team. I'm very proud of the work ethic and dedication our players exhibited.”

In 2012, Gulf Coast won its fifth straight Region 23 title and third straight MACJC Championship and also swept every MACJC regular season event. The Bulldogs were tied for the lead after Round One and stayed in the top five during the tournament.