The Meridian Community College golf team entered the 2017 spring portion of its schedule looking to get off to a fast start. The Eagles did just that by capturing the 2017 Lou Hart Invitational Championship Tuesday. 

The tournament was a two-day event and was hosted by Northwood Country Club. The tournament victory was also a conference victory for the MCC golf team, adding to the stakes. 

MCC finished with a two-day score of 584, which was 11 strokes ahead of Mississippi Gulf Coast, which finished second in the field. Northwest Mississippi finished in third place with a team score of 613, while East Mississippi finished fourth overall in the tournament with a team score of 616. East Central rounded out the top five by finishing one stroke behind EMCC at 617.  

MCC freshman Isaiah Jackson earned medalist honors by finishing with a two-day individual score of 140 (73, 67). The individual victory by Jackson also marked his first collegiate win at Meridian. MCC freshman Jacob Berry finished with the second-highest score for the Eagles with a two-day total of 149 (75, 75), and former Lamar star Lance Strickland finished the tournament with a two-day total of 150 (74, 76). Porsche Kitipongpatana ended the tournament with a 151 (76, 75), and Malachi Spears finished with a 154 (84, 70). 

Bailey Threlkeld of East Central earned a spot on the All-Tournament team by finishing in third. Joey Partin of East Mississippi placed fourth to land on the All-Tournament team.

The MCC golf team is scheduled to return to action March 27-28 by participating in the Glenlakes Invitational at the Glenlakes Golf Course in Foley, Ala.