On Fire

(UMAA) NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Ole Miss men’s golf team made history Tuesday, winning the rain-shortened Mason Rudolph Intercollegiate, to become the first team in Rebel history to win three consecutive golf tournaments.

The streak began with the Memphis Intercollegiate, and then Rebels won the Squire Creek Invitational last week. Ole Miss fired a one-under 283 in Sunday’s first round to edge arch-rival Mississippi State (284) by one stroke.

Play was suspended twice on Monday due to heavy rains. Teams went back out Tuesday morning to try and complete the second round, but more rain forced officials to cancel the second round, giving the Rebels the win.

“It has rained for over 24 hours solid here,” head coach Ernest Ross said. “The course was completely unplayable. We were declared the winners by one shot. It again shows how important every single shot is in a round of golf. Our guys are thrilled to make history and do something that no other golf team has ever done at Ole Miss.”

Freshman Jonathan Randolph and junior Jesse Speirs shot 69 in the opening round to finish tied for third. Randolph, a native of Brandon, has enjoyed a successful fall in his first season with the Rebels, earning two top-five and three top-10 finishes. This marks his highest finish as a Rebel. Speirs concluded his first fall with the Rebels with three-top five and four top-10 finishes. The Bangor, Maine native was the highest Rebel finisher in four of the five tournaments this fall.

Senior Kyle Ellis carded a one-over 72, David Marino shot 73 and Will Roebuck finished with an 85 to round out the Rebel scoring.

This tournament concluded the fall season for the Rebels. They will begin the spring season Feb. 9-10 at the Gator Invitational in Gainesville, Fla.