NEMCC SOPH. CHASE WILLIAMS FINISHES 3RD
@ NJCAA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT

June 8 , 2007

 CHAUTAUQUA, N.Y.-- Northeast Mississippi Community College sophomore golfer Chase Williams shot a round of 72, even par on the fourth and final day of the NJCAA Division III National Championship at Chautauqua Golf Club (New York) and finished alone in third place in the individual race. With his performance this week, the Alcorn Central native earned First Team All-American honors.

Williams is the first All-American golfer at NEMCC since the Tigers' head golf coach Craig Lauderdale earned All-American honors almost 18 years ago.

"I'm proud of what I accomplished this week," said Williams. "I still am a little disappointed because I had plenty of chances to win. Today (Friday) I was three under with six holes to play and let it get away. I did the same thing in the third round. But overall I'm glad I finished in the top five."

Lauderdale expressed his pride in his 2007 Northeast golf team after the conclusion of the tournament, saying the Tigers' 11th place finish wasn't what he envisioned at the start of the week, but that all five players were consistent throughout the four-day event.

"This is not an easy course," said Lauderdale. "If you look at the top of the individual leaderboard, the young man who won the tournament is an extremely good golfer and finished the week plus six. Chase played great but only managed one round under par during the week. Putting was an issue for us because it's a mountain course right next to a huge lake and all the putts break towards the water. It was hard for our kids to adjust to, but they fought, and fought, and hung in there and came away with a respectable finish."

The former NEMCC Tiger and now head coach says he's happy to be joined in the Northeast record books by his understudy.

"Chase is great person," Lauderdale explained, "a great golfer, and he's got a really bright future. It won't hurt my feelings at all to see his name next to mine on the All-Americans list."

Jose Gutierrez of Louisburg CC (N.C.) earned the individual 2007 NJCAA National Title, finishing 6-over and winning in a playoff over Paul Jacobson from Madison Area Technical College (Wisc.). Jacobson and Gutierrez finished one shot ahead of Chase Williams.

The overall team title goes to Nassau CC (N.Y.) with a four day total of 1211 (308, 308, 304, 291). Nassau came into the tournament ranked No. 1 in the nation, one spot in front of Northeast.

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