Golfstat.com ranked the Mississippi State University men’s golf team No. 13 this week, its highest ranking in school history. In what appears to be déjà vu from last season, the MSU squad finished runner-up at the Sam Hall Intercollegiate last weekend for the second consecutive year, falling to the University of Louisiana-Lafayette by just one stroke.  
The Bulldogs got off to a slow start at the tournament shooting seven over par through the first nine holes, but the team managed to rally back and finished the tournament shooting a combined 14-under par as a team, its lowest tournament score in 30 years.
Despite the second place finish, the Bulldogs still played well and head Coach Clay Homan said there are multiple positives to take away from last weekend’s play.
“We didn’t beat ourselves,” Homan said.  “We didn’t always play our best but we played like senior-laden teams are supposed to play.  We played with a lot of poise and with a lot of confidence.”
The team entered last weekend’s tournament without its All-SEC first team selection Chad Ramey. Ramey’s absence was a big loss for the team but also provided other players a chance to step up.  Senior Joe Sakulpolphaisan delivered in a major way by finishing first place and winning the tournament.   Sakulpolphaisan shot a career best 14-under par and also tied the course record.  
“I had played my best golf and shot my first 29 in nine holes,” Sakulpolphaisan said via email. “It felt really great to shoot that number and come back to win my first Division 1 college golf tournament,” 
Assistant Coach Sean Covich said he could not be more proud of Sakulpolphaisan on his tournament win.
“He works just as hard as anybody on the team,” Covich said.  “To go ahead and get a win in the season opener is going to give him confidence for the rest of the season and propel him to a great year.”
The Bulldogs are a veteran-savvy team, and Homan said he expects experience to play a key role on the team this season.
“We have four seniors that, on any given day, one of those guys can beat the other guy, so we’ve got four guys who have experience and have shown they can carry the torch for us,” he said.  
The team now has its eyes set on this weekend’s tournament in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Challenge, an ACC vs. SEC challenge.  The team will also have its captain, Ramey, back to play this weekend, and Covich expects him to have an enormous impact.
“To get him back in the lineup is good,” Covich said. “He’s a great kid to have around, and we’re definitely a much better team with him there.”
Along with MSU, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt will represent the SEC in this weekend’s tournament. Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Virginia and Wake Forest comprise the ACC contengents.
The Dick’s Sporting Good Challenge will be an all-weekend event and will air on tape-delay on ESPNU on Sun., Oct. 13. 
 

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Courtesy Photo | MSU Media Relations

MSU men's golf coach Clay Homan (left) and Bulldog senior Joe Sakulpolphaisan (right) look on during a tournament. MSU posted its best tournament finish in 30 seasons and preps for the Dick's Sporting Good Challenge this weekend.