Eagles tap Hales as new golf coach

from school reports
The Meridian Star

MERIDIAN — Former Northeast Lauderdale High School and Meridian Community College golf standout Clinton Hales is slated to become the new head men’s golf coach at MCC, according to college president Dr. Scott Elliott.

Hales will succeed Sean Covich, who has been hired as assistant coach at Mississippi State University after a stellar run at the Eagle helm.

“I am very gratified to have secured a coach for the MCC golf program who I’m confident will continue the tradition of excellence fashioned by Jim Redgate, Lou Hart and Sean Covich,” Elliott said. “Clinton will be a very positive role model for our players. Moreover, he is an individual who is well known in the Meridian golfing community, which is important for our program because without our area country clubs and golf courses, we couldn’t have a golf program at MCC - period, let alone one of the finest in the nation on the junior college level.”

Hales graduated from Northeast High School in 2001, earning All-State honors on the links. He went on to star for Hart at MCC in 2001-03, making All-Region and NJCAA All-American in 2002 and helping the team win back-to-back Region 23 titles as well as top 10 national finishes. He was named MCC male athlete of the year in 2003.

Besides achieving on the course, Hales consistently excelled in the classroom. He made the NJCAA Academic All-American team for MCC as well as being named to the college’s “Circle of Excellence” in 2003, an award that goes to the college’s top student performers in terms of academic achievement and community service.

After graduating with honors from MCC, Hales went on to earn BS and MBA degrees from Mississippi State with honors in both cases.

“I’m very excited about this opportunity,” Hales, who teaches Sunday School and college and career classes for his church, said. “Ever since I played for Lou Hart at MCC, I have had great appreciation for the tradition of the Eagle golf program. My goal will be to protect and preserve that tradition by recruiting not only good players, but also good citizens – people who will represent the college well on the course, in the classroom and in the community.”

MCC Athletic Director Hilary Allen and Covich strongly endorsed Hales for the position, Elliott noted.

“Clinton will do a superlative job for MCC,” Covich said. “He has an abiding love for the game of golf, and he is about as stand-up a guy as you’ll ever come to know. I was hoping to leave the program in good hands, and that has now been assured with the hiring of Clinton Hales.”

Besides playing at MCC, Hales has also served the program as a volunteer assistant coach under Covich.

“Clinton is well familiar with our players, attended national tournaments with the team and just generally tried to stay involved with the program,” Covich said. “I can’t think of a better fit for MCC golf than Clinton.”

Elliott will ask for the MCC Board of Trustees’ approval of Hales’ hiring on June 14, and Hales will prospectively begin his duties on July 1.

MCC's Garon named 2011 Jack Nicklaus Award winner

DUBLIN, Ohio – Brandt Garon of Meridian Community College has been named the 2011 Jack Nicklaus Award recipient as the GCAA Collegiate Player of the Year(NJCAA).

In 2011, Garon won four events - the Wallace State Fall Invitational, Preview at the Point, Arkansas State Red Wolf Intercollegiate and the NJCAA District IV Championship. He posted a team best 72.36 scoring average and had 16 rounds of even par or lower. Garon was named a PING First-Team All-America selection, as well as PING All-Region, for the second consecutive year. In addition to his four victories, Garon also had one runner-up finish and was named to an event’s all-tournament team eight times in 13 events.

Jack Nicklaus, a Big Ten and NCAA Champion at The Ohio State University, helped inspire and create the Jack Nicklaus Award in 1988. Mr. Nicklaus recognized Garon during the final round of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, just outside of Nicklaus’ hometown of Columbus.