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Top Picture:  Front row- (L-R) Mary Holmes, Tucker Holmes, Spencer Holmes
Back row-(L-R) Northeast head golf coach Craig Lauderdale, New Albany head golf coach Robert Garrett

Bottom Picture:  Front row-(L-R) Scott Holt, Austin Holt, Gale Manning
Back row-(L-R) Coach Lauderdale, Lisa Manning, Coach Garrett

BOONEVILLE, Miss. – Northeast Mississippi Community College golf coach Craig Lauderdale has signed two New Albany High School seniors to the Northeast golf for the 2009-10 program.

Tucker Holmes and Austin Holt inked with Northeast on Wednesday March 25 in front of a crowd of coaches, parents and faculty in the media room on the New Albany campus.

Holmes was named the Most Valuable Player on the Bulldogs golf team in 2007 and was the team’s 2008 Co-MVP while placing fifth at the 2008 Class 4A State Tournament.

“It’s a real big honor that Coach Lauderdale signed me,” Holmes said.  “I am happy that I get to continue my golf career. I need to start hitting my irons better and improve my short game in order to help the Tiger golf team.”

Holmes is also a member of the New Albany Soccer team.

Holt brings his own advantage of skills and abilities to the greens for Northeast.

Holt finished sixth overall in individuals at the 2008 Class 4A State Tournament and received the honor of being the Bulldogs’ Co-MVP for the 2008 season.

“I am glad to be going to Northeast,” Holt said. “I am also glad that I have been giving the opportunity to play golf for the Tigers. I must improve my short game and iron game as well as hitting my drives straighter in order to be successful at the next level.”

New Albany golf coach Robert Garrett was glad to see his players go to the area school.

“I think Northeast is lucky to have these two guys because they could have been Division I type players but they wanted to go to Northeast,” Garrett said. “They have been two of the best golfers in North Mississippi since their sophomore years and helped lead us to the 4A state tournament for three years now.”

Northeast’s golf team is set to host the Mississippi Association of Community/Junior College’s (MACJC) tour-stop at Shiloh Ridge Athletic Club in Corinth on March 30-31.

Since jumping to Division II at the beginning of the year, Northeast has recorded a pair of runner-up finishes to perennial power Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College this season.

Courtesy of Northeast Mississippi Community College Sports Information Office