NEMCC Tigers, including one New Albany golfer, prepare for conference title defense

The Northeast Mississippi Community College golf program is looking to piece together two consecutive positive rounds during its state championship defense. The Tigers will compete in the 2022 Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) Tournament beginning on Friday, April 8 at Wolf Hollow Golf Club.

“We’re feeling good,” said Northeast head coach Derek DeVaughn. “I think we’re coming into our A-game right here at the end of the year. We’ve made some adjustments throughout the week and I think that’ll lead to some big improvements.” The Tigers won this event last year at Meridian’s Briarwood Golf Club by four shots over runner-up Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

Tate Dickerson, Carson Wilder and current Troy (Ala.) University standout Jake Kilcrease each made the all-tournament team.

The reigning champs put their title up for grabs on the campus of Copiah-Lincoln Community College. Wolf Hollow is a par-72 course that features 6,745 yards from the longest tees with a slope rating of 120.

“It’s got some what we call quirky holes,” DeVaughn said. “The key is just going to be getting through those and try to attack some of the easier holes. We’re very confident.”  Northeast enters the postseason with a No. 15 ranking among National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II affiliates from Golfstat.

In addition, Dickerson is individually rated 10th in the country and number one in the MACCC. Dickerson has compiled a brilliant second campaign with the Tigers. The Austin Peay State (Tenn.) University transfer earned medalist honors during three of the six regular season conference events and received all-tournament recognition five times. Austin Lauderdale of Booneville has three top 10 finishes to his credit this year while Kossuth’s Wilder has one. Booneville’s John Daniel Deaton and Andrew Fennell of New Albany complete Northeast’s five-man roster for the MACCC Tournament.

The Tigers ended up in third place as a team during each conference competition. However, Northeast held a lead following the opening round at both River Birch Golf Club in Amory and McComb’s Quail Hollow Golf Course. Northeast boasts recent success at Wolf Hollow. The Tigers were runner-up to Meridian Community College at a regular season meet in Wesson from March 3-4, 2021 while Dickerson qualified for an individual playoff for medalist distinction.

The top five finishers at the MACCC Tournament will move on to the NJCAA District D Tournament, which takes place from April 25-26 at Castlewoods Country Club in the Jackson metro area.

–Blake Long Sports Information Director Northeast Mississippi Community College, Haney Union Room 215, 101 Cunningham Boulevard Booneville, MS 38829

Fennell signs to play for NEMCC: https://newalbanyunionco.com/nemcc-signs-bulldog-golfers/