GULFPORT – In the first MACJC event of the spring season this weekend at Great Southern Golf Club, Northwest shot a two-day total of 624 (318-306) to finish fourth overall out of 11 teams.

"We got off to a rocky start, but were able to turn it around late," volunteer assistant Guy Purdy said. "We were more relaxed on Day 2 and got some jitters out. Our short game really hurt us in this tournament and that's one area we haven't been able to work on as much as we'd like to in practice." 

Northwest improved by 12 strokes on Monday, thanks in large part to Alan Larson, Martin Powell and Stuart Cochran. Larson shaved nine strokes off his opening round 83 by firing a team-best 74, while Powell cut off eight strokes with an 84-76 and Cochran fired an 83-77.

Freshman Ryan Burchfield, a late addition to the roster, was the Rangers' low man for the tournament, finishing in a tie for ninth with a two-day 154 (78-76). Freshman Riley Baggett was a stroke behind in a tie for 14th, carding a 155 (72-83), which included a Northwest low round of 72 on Sunday.

All six Rangers finished in the Top 27 out of 63 total golfers.

Meridian won the tournament with a 588, with Gulf Coast (595), Co-Lin (610), Northwest (624) and East Mississippi (631) rounding out the Top 5 teams.

"It's going to be really hard to beat teams like Gulf Coast and Meridian, because they look very strong," Purdy continued. "But our guys' attitudes are really good and they are ready to put in the extra work to get better before the next tournament at Eagle Ridge."

Northwest will return to the links Feb. 22-23 in Raymond for the Hinds Invitational.