The No. 1 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College men’s golf team stepped on the gas early Tuesday, cruising to a commanding 12-shot victory in the MGCCC Fall Invitational at Windance Country Club in Gulfport.
The Bulldogs opened the tournament with an impressive 4-under through the first three holes, quickly establishing a four-shot lead over No. 5 Central Alabama Community College that expanded to double digits later in the round.
Final standings: Top five teams
- Mississippi Gulf Coast CC (No. 1), total: -2
- Round 1: +9
- Round 2: -7
- Round 3: -4
- Central Alabama CC (No. 5), total: +10
- Round 1: -3
- Round 2: +5
- Round 3: +8
- Murray State (Oklahoma) (No. 3), total: +29
- Round 1: +12
- Round 2: +17
- Round 3: E
- Jefferson State CC (No. 19), total: +31
- Round 1: +12
- Round 2: +8
- Round 3: +11
- Meridian CC (No. 7), total: +36
- Round 1: +15
- Round 2: +8
- Round 3: +13
John Mark Mills (sophomore, Pontotoc/Mike Bender Golf Academy) was a standout performer, leading the Bulldogs with a spectacular 5-under third round.
Mills finished the 54-hole event at 6-under, earning his first community college tournament win. He was particularly impressive early, starting 3-under through four holes and 4-under through seven, showcasing his exceptional skill on the course. His teammate, Stanley Campbell, finished in second place, five shots behind Mills, making them the only two golfers in the 88-player field to finish under par.
Peyton Russell (sophomore, Gautier) also had an eventful round, shooting 2-under with eight birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey, securing a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Ludvig Behring (sophomore, Sollentuna, Sweden/Osterakers Gymnasium) finished in 13th place, contributing to the Bulldogs’ strong showing.
Season highlights
This tournament marked the end of a remarkable fall season for the Bulldogs, who won three straight events and finished second and third in two tournaments.
As the defending national champions, the Bulldogs are eager to carry this winning spirit into the spring season, where they aim to continue their dominance.
Insights from coach Brad Thornton
After the tournament, MGCCC coach Brad Thornton shared his thoughts on the team’s success.
“This team is a special group. We have a ton of talent, and these guys are as competitive as any group I’ve ever been around,” he said.
Thornton highlighted the team’s recent form.
“They’ve played well throughout the fall and really hit their stride in these last three events,” he said. “Three different individual winners show we have a ton of depth.”
Looking ahead, he stressed the importance of continued development.
“We will need to work throughout the offseason to develop more depth and consistency,” he said. “The idea of being complacent is not something we believe in. I think if we continue to do that, the results will follow.”
With the momentum built from a successful fall, the team is poised for another strong showing as they prepare for the challenges ahead.
