MERIDIAN - After a strong day two at the Lou Hart Invitational at the Northwood Country Club, the Northwest Mississippi Community College men's golf team finished tied for seventh out of 12 teams, improving from ninth place after Monday's opening round.
The Rangers shot 40-over as a team, which was a significant improvement from their last tournament where NWCC shot 56-over at the Chris Clark Invitational at the beginning of March.
Although no member of Northwest's team finished in the top 20, all four of the players' scores that counted towards the team total finished within the top 50 of a field of 72.
The top placing Ranger was freshman Fadi Burnet. On both days of competition, Burnet shot four-over for a combined score of eight-over. During the first round of competition, Burnet hit three birdies on holes nine, twelve, and fourteen. On day two, Burnet hit another two birdies on holes five and thirteen. In the end, Burnet placed 23rd, dropping one spot from day one to day two.
Shortly behind Burnet were two Rangers, Braden Beverage and Cole Elander, tied for 30th. After a day one that saw Beverage hit two birdies but also hit three double bogeys, Beverage had the best day two out of anyone on Northwest's team, shooting two over. On day two, Beverage birdied the twelfth hole and had pars on 14 holes in the round, showing his consistency. Beverage moved up 16 spots on day two.
Elander, the other Ranger that finished 30th, climbed up the rankings with a better day two. On day one, Elander hit seven bogeys and only one birdie. Elander was able to improve upon this score on day two by hitting a birdie on the seventh hole and only hitting five bogeys.
Caesar Ingendorf shot six-over on both days to accumulate a 12-over finish and end the competition in 43rd place. However, Ingedorf was the only Ranger to eagle over both days of competition, picking up one on the par five sixth hole on day two.
Rounding out the scoring team, Atharv Sharma shot 19-over after both days of competition, placing 60th.
Competing as an individual, sophomore Landon Masterson shot 10-over the first day of competition and shot only five-over on his second day, showing the best improvement from day one to day two of any Ranger. Masterson hit three birdies on day one but went over par on nine holes. However, on day two, Masterson hit only two birdies but also only went over par six times.
The men will travel to Decatur, Alabama, to take part in the Calhoun Men's Spring Classic on March 30th and 31st. The tournament will be played at Burning Tree Country Club and is the final tournament of the year before the MACCC Championships which will be held at The Club at Ole Brooke in Brookhaven.
To stay up to date on the NWCC men's golf team, follow the Ranger social media accounts or go to nwccrangers.com.
