The Northwest Mississippi Community College women’s golf team secured its first tournament championship in school history at the NEMCC Women’s Spring Invitational at Shiloh Ridge Golf and Fitness in Corinth, according to the school.
Head Coach Adam Payne credited the team’s effort and progression. “The girls have worked really hard, not only this year, but the sophomore girls started this process last year,” Payne said.
Northwest shot a team score of 117-over par, its best of the season, finishing 43 strokes ahead of the second-place team. Every NWCC player finished in the top 15, with two players in the top three. Freshman AnaLeigh Little led the team, finishing second overall.
In the first round, Little shot seven-over par, only going over par on five holes, with three bogeys and two double bogeys. She played on par during the back nine. In the second round, she improved to four-over, avoiding double bogeys and only exceeding par four times. “She’s kind of doing the same thing she’s done all year,” Payne said. “Just kept putting one foot in front of the other. She’s a great team leader because she gets excited for everybody, regardless of how she plays.”
Freshman Bella McNeil finished third overall, shooting 10-over par in the first round with two birdies on holes five and eight. She maintained her form in the second round, also shooting 8-over with birdies on holes two and eight. Niblett finished ninth with a total score of 45-over, shooting 21-over on day one and 24-over on day two, while sophomore Maddie Baker placed 10th after shooting 19-over in the first round and 30-over in the second.
Zaeja Davis also performed consistently, shooting 26-over in round one and 24-over in round two, finishing 11th with a total score of 50-over. Sophomore Addison Forbes competed as an individual, shooting 33-over in the first round with a birdie on hole 11, and 30-over in the second, also with a birdie on the same hole. She finished 13th overall with a total score of 63-over.
Northwest entered the second day of competition with a 12-stroke lead, the first time the team carried such an advantage into the final day. Payne noted the team’s focus and calmness. “My message then was the only thing you can control is yourself, especially in golf,” Payne said. “I could tell Wednesday morning we were a little bit different than we typically are in the mornings. We were a little bit quieter at breakfast, so I played some music in the van on the way there just to try to lighten the mood and try to get them to relax a little bit.”
The team will compete at the NJCAA Division II South District Championship at Cider Ridge Golf Club in Oxford, Alabama, on April 22-23. This marks Northwest’s first postseason appearance. “Let’s not think about what’s ahead of us or what has happened behind us. Just stay in the moment,” Payne said.
Fans can follow NWCC women’s golf updates through the school’s social media accounts or at nwccrangers.com.
