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Expectations high for Co-Lin golf in 2015
This could be a very special year for the Copiah-Lincoln golf team. The Wolves were solid in 2014, finishing third in the state and region tournaments, but failed to repeat as state champions after taking the title in 2013. Co-Lin head coach Ronny Ross returns a strong group of sophomores and is extremely excited about the freshmen that will make up the 2015 Wolves.
Desormeaux leads group of returnees
Sophomore Ryan Desormeaux returns after posting an outstanding season as a freshman in 2014. The Broussard, Louisiana had the third lowest scoring average in the state last season. He finished tied for 66th place in the NJCAA Division II National Golf Tournament in Plymouth, Indiana. A talented ball-striker, Desormeaux doesn’t get rattled and makes great on-course adjustments. Desormeaux was named to the PING All-Central Region Team following the 2014 season. He’ll be joined by sophomores Gregory Causey, Taylor Jelks, and Will Lee. Causey, a graduate of Petal High, has been consistently improving since stepping foot on campus as a freshman, according to Ross. Lee, a long hitter and Loyd Star Attendance Center alum, has improved his short game as a sophomore. Jelks is what Ross calls the glue of the team. An extremely hard worker, Jelks is just as popular on campus as he is with his teammates.
Ross transfers from Ole Miss
Ross and his Wolves got quite the Christmas present when his son, redshirt freshman Jacob Ross,transferred to Co-Lin from Ole Miss at the semester break. A member of the Rebel golf team and highly decorated as a junior golfer, Ross is a graduate of Brookhaven Academy. Other freshmen include Cade Caughman and Drake Nelson. Caughman played football, basketball, and golf in high school at Simpson Academy. Coming off of a knee injury, Ross sees Caughman improving as he focuses solely on golf. Nelson, a graduate of Lawrence County, will also play tennis for the Wolves in the spring. Intelligent and athletic, Ross calls Nelson the best athlete on the team.
MACJC expected to be deep in 2015
The level of competition in the MACJC has been steadily on the rise over the last decade. Ross expects the league to be strong from top to bottom again in 2015. He mentions Gulf Coast, Meridian, Jones, and East Mississippi as teams that will contenders in 2015.
The Wolves will face some of their toughest opposition when they travel to Scottsboro, Alabama on March 12-14 for the 12th Annual Ron Marshall Spring Fling at Goose Pond Colony Golf Club. Goose Pond is the host course for the NJCAA National Tournament and Ross hopes the preview will benefit any members of the team that qualify for thenational tournament on May 19-22.
Ross builds Co-Lin into consistent winner
Players at Co-Lin benefit from having one of the few on-campus 18-hole golf courses in the MACJC, Wolf Hollow Golf Club. The Wolves are also lucky to have their coach serve as the director of golf operations at Wolf Hollow. Ross, in his 15th year leading Co-Lin golf, has brought two state championships (’09,’13) to Wesson. Ross was named MACJC Coach of the Year following both of those championships.
At a time when some schools have scaled back their golf programs or eliminated them, Ross has Co-Lin charging forward as you can find his players on the course or range at Wolf Hollow every afternoon. You can also find the Co-Lin golf team in the weight room, as the Wolves often partake of an early morning workout boot camp at the King’s Daughters Fitness Center in Brookhaven. Former Co-Lin golf Craig Hennington will serve as Ross’s assistant coach for the ninth season.
Jacob Ross has made a verbal commitment to play golf next year at Mississippi State and Causey plans to finish his career at Mississippi College. As many as four members of this year’s team could continue their careers after Co-Lin. Former Co-Lin golfer Alex Clark will suit up this season for the Delta State Statesmen. Another former Wolf, Austin Schillaci, will be a member of the Loyola (N.O.) golf team this season.
The season begins for Co-Lin on Feb. 8 with an event hosted by Gulf Coast. The Wolves will cohost an even with Hinds on March 1 in Wesson. The MACJC State Tournament will take place in Columbus on April 18-19. The NJCAA Region 23 Tournament will be hosted by Laurel Country Club on April 26-27.
2015 Wolfpack Golf Schedule
02-08-15 Sun (18 Holes) MACJC Conference Event #1 Grand Bear GC, Saucier
02-09-15 Mon (18 Holes) Mississippi Gulf Coast CC Pine Burr CC, Wiggins
02-28-15 Sat (18 Holes) MACJC Conference Event #2 Eagle Ridge, Raymond, MS
03-01-15 Sun (18 Holes) Hinds CC and Co-Lin Wolf Hollow, Wesson, MS
03-12-15 Thur (18 Holes) 12th Annual Ron Marshall Goose Pond Colony GC
03-13-15 Fri (18 Holes) Spring Fling Tournament (Preview) Scottsboro, AL
03-14-15 Sat (18 Holes) Illinois Central CC
03-23-15 Mon (18 Holes) MACJC Conference Event #3 Dancing Rabbit (Azalea)
03-24-15 Tue (18 Holes) East Central CC Philadelphia, MS
04-06-15 Mon (18 Holes) MACJC Conference Event #4 Wedgewood, Olive Branch
04-07-15 Tue (18 Holes) Northwest CC Back Acres, Senatobia
04-13-15 Mon (18 Holes) MACJC Conference Event #5 Briarwood CC
04-14-15 Tue (18 Holes) Meridian CC Meridian, MS
04-18-15 Sat (18 Holes) MACJC Conference Championship Lion Hills
04-19-15 Sun (18 Holes) East MS CC Columbus, MS
04-26-15 Sun (18 Holes) NJCAA Region 23 Championship Laurel CC
04-27-15 Mon (18 Holes) Jones County JC Laurel, MS
May 17 Sun (Practice) NJCAA National Championship Goose Pond Colony
May 18 Mon (Practice) Illinois Central CC Scottsboro, AL
May 19 Tue (18 Holes)
May 20 Wed (18 Holes)
May 21 Thur (18 Holes)
May 22 Fri (18 Holes)
