HANCEVILLE – Wallace State’s men’s golf team captured its third WSCC Fall Invitational title in four years on Tuesday, and freshman Cody Maddox was the individual low medalist in his first collegiate tournament with the Lions.
Monday and Tuesday proved to be wet and dreary at Cross Creek Golf Course, but it didn’t faze Wallace State, which won by 16 strokes. The Lions prevailed with a 9-over par 873 over the two-day event. They opened with a six-under 282 over the opening 18 holes and added a 303 and 288 to secure the championship.
Maddox, a freshman from Marion County High School, finished with a 4-under par 212. He carded a 68 over the opening 18 holes, tying teammate Brandon
Lacasse for the best mark over the initial 18. Maddox added 75 during the next round and closed the tournament Tuesday with a 69.
“We definitely had to play through tough conditions. I was able to hit the ball well, and it was one of the best tournaments I’ve had in a while. I tried not to let the conditions distract me,” Maddox said. “I’m glad we were able to win our first tournament of the fall.”
Lacasse, a sophomore, was named to the All-Tournament team along with Maddox after shooting an even par 216 (68-75-73). Lacasse returns to the Lions this season after being named a PING All-District 4 selection as a freshman.
Freshman Anthony Lumpkin finished with a 222 (72-76-74) for Wallace State, sophomore Thomas Gevas carded a 223 (74-77-72) and Luke Wilson a 234 (80-78-76).
“For it to be our first tournament of the year, we had some freshmen step up and play well. I’m proud of our guys. The weather was what it was, and that’s the way college golf is sometimes. Whenever you get a chance to play in a tournament, you play,” said Wallace State NJCAA Hall of Fame coach Dan York. “We had a couple of good rounds, and there’s certainly room for improvement. We are going to continue to work hard to get better and better.”
Central Alabama finished second with an 889 and Mississippi Gulf Coast was third with an 898.
The number of teams invited to Wallace State’s Fall Invitational increases each year, especially with programs being added within the Alabama Community College Conference, including Northeast Alabama Community College and Marion Military Institute.
Coastal Alabama Community College, Snead State, Calhoun, Jeff State, Meridian (Miss.) Community College and Georgia Northwest Technical College rounded out the Invitational field.
Houston Pierce, Connor Bruce, Garrison Smith and Logan Forrester also competed in their first tournament for Wallace State.
The Lions travel to Melbourne, Fla., on Oct. 1 to play in the NJCAA District IV Preview Tournament.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit http://athletics.wallacestate.edu.
