The Mississippi State University men’s golf team has had an outstanding season, one in which the Bulldogs quietly became a consistent threat in the SEC. They finished sixth in the SEC Tournament this past weekend. With veteran leadership and a growing underclass, the Bulldogs have maintained low scores and high rankings throughout the season.
The Mississippi State women’s golf team did not advance to match play at the SEC Women’s Championship on April 19 despite a season of growth with new players. While those players had proven that they could hold their own, it took time to adjust. The team is now heading to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, for the NCAA tournament regionals.
After nine regular-season tournaments, the men’s team finished in the top five multiple times and never finished lower than ninth place, separating a good team from a postseason competitor. The golfers were confident as they entered the conference championship.
The team’s regular season ended April 14 at Mossy Oak Golf Course in West Point, with Mississippi State placing first, a great lead into postseason play. 19 teams competed in the Mossy Oak Collegiate, and MSU shot 17 under par for the weekend. Individually, Dain Richie was tied for first, shooting eight under, and Garret Endicott was tied for fifth with a score of five under par.
At the last two regular-season tournaments, Richie finished highest among the rest of the team. Endicott, a senior from San Antonio, Texas, has played a total of 26 rounds and shot even or better in 19 of them. Ugo Malcor, a senior from La Baule, France, shot even or better in 14 of 26 rounds.
The SEC Championship Tournament was held in St. Simons Island, Georgia, at Sea Island Golf Club this weekend. MSU finished sixth in stroke play and advanced to match play on Saturday, but lost in the quarterfinals to Texas. Advancing to match play is a success, but an early exit could raise postseason concerns.
Richie shot 15 birdies for the tournament and scored under-par rounds every day of the tournament. He tied for seventh place.
Most of the veteran players have mirrored production levels from the previous season. Richie experienced a slight dip, but Malcor and Endicott have posted stronger statistics than last season. Golf is an individual sport, but tournament outcomes are determined by a collective score. The Bulldogs’ strong internal competition is their biggest strength, pushing week-to-week competitiveness and high performance standards.
The women’s team’s SEC Tournament results were not ideal, despite previous tournament outcomes this season. The results were a setback rather than a hindrance to their overall potential. The women competed in ten tournaments and finished in the top five in six of them. They never dipped below tenth place.
Five freshmen were the team’s biggest challenge, but MSU managed to maintain a balance of veteran leadership with developing young athletes. Battling through those obstacles and still maintaining good scores is a victory in itself.
The team’s best tournament result came at the UCF Challenge in January at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. They shot 20-under par and finished second, a performance that showcased the team’s capabilities, even if consistency hasn’t been achieved. Avery Weed shot eight under, tying for second place individually.
Weed, a junior from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, was an outstanding player as a sophomore and has played consistently, bringing strong veteran experience to the lineup. She made her second appearance at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur this year and tied for eleventh place, shooting five under par. She won the Blessings Collegiate Invitational in the fall, shooting 14-under par.
Samantha Whateley is another important returning player in the Bulldogs’ lineup. The junior from Johannesburg, South Africa, received the individual title at the Mason Rudolf Championship at Vanderbilt Legends Club in September. She tallied nine under par for her season best.
Freshmen Ines Belchior and Moa Stridh shot nine par or better rounds over the season. Belchior, from Lisbon, Portugal, appeared in eight tournaments and placed in the top 10 in three of those.
The young team faced challenges, but overall, they played competitively and showed growth. This year laid the groundwork for a potentially veteran-heavy roster next year. Although results have dipped recently, the Bulldogs still have a chance to make a meaningful postseason run at the Chapel Hill Regional, May 11-13.
