By By Marty Stamper/The Meridian Star
June 4, 2001
East Central Community College freshman Jeremy Stevens will be representing the Warriors in the NJCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship this week at Chautauqua Golf Course in Chautauqua, N.Y.
He'll find few familiar faces in New York. Also making the trip are ECCC golf coach Joe Clark and Stevens' parents, Brooks Ann and Ricky Stevens.
After a practice round today, the 72-hole tournament begins on Tuesday.
Of the top 15 teams in the May 22 NJCAA Division III poll, nine were from either New York or New Jersey. Columbus (Ohio) State Community College was ranked No. 1 followed by Jamestown (N.Y.) Community College, Central Lakes College-Brainerd of Brainerd, Minn., and Rock Valley College of Rockford, Ill.
Stevens played for Newton County High School at Decatur for six years where he went out in style as a senior.
This year at ECCC began slowly, but finished nice as Stevens turned in an 84-78162 to place fourth in the Region 23 Division III Tournament at Pinebelt National Golf Course at Hattiesburg on April 24-25.
Also qualifying from Region 23 for the national tournament are Copiah-Lincoln's John Carlton, Matt Mooney, and Wesley Rogers and Adam Napier of Jones.
Since only five Region 23 schools participate in Division III, the low team doesn't advance to the national tournament. Six schools must participate for the low team to qualify.
Stevens said the layoff since the late April regional has helped him prepare for the national tournament.
Clark, who is retiring after coaching the ECCC golf team for the last 30 years, has had at least eight other golfers reach the national tournament.
Marty Stamper is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at mstamper@themeridianstar.com.