On The Tee: Joe David

In his final campaign, senior golfer Joe David hopes to put it all together for an All-American year and lead his team to the National Finals.


The Madison, Tenn., native had an excellent fall earning three top five finishes in five tournaments and ending the 2011 year with a fifth-place showing at the Patriot All-America Invitational. Here are a couple of stories out today on David.

Daily Mississippian: David leads men's golf into start of 2012 season

Golfweek: Men's Preview - SEC

Mississippi-Born Head Coaches

With Hugh Freeze coming on board, the Magnolia State flavor grows even richer in the Ole Miss coaching ranks. Born in Oxford and raised in Independence, Freeze is one of six native Mississippians currently serving as head coaches for Rebel teams. Here is the full list and their hometowns:

Football: Hugh Freeze, Independence
Men's Basketball: Andy Kennedy, Louisville
Women's Basketball: Renee Ladner, Gulfport
Men's Golf: Ernest Ross, Grenada
Men's Tennis: Billy Chadwick, Jackson
Track & Field: Joe Walker, Utica

Follow me on Twitter at @CampbellKyle.

Q-School Take Two For Randolph

What do Boo Weekley and former Rebel standout Jonathan Randolph have in common? They are both playing in the second stage of PGA TOUR Q School this week in Panama City, Fla.

The second stage, at the Hombre Golf Club, begins tomorrow and concludes Saturday with the final round.

Weekley has won twice on the PGA TOUR and was a key member of the 2008 winning Ryder Cup team. Unfortunately, this past year he made only 11 cuts in 23 starts, did not have a top 10 finish and ended the year ranked 180 on the money list. In his career, Weekley has earned more than $7 million.

Randolph, who turned pro this fall, has been juggling finishing up his degree in Managerial Finance with getting ready for Q School. The first stage went better than expected for the former All-American from Brandon, Miss. Randolph not only advanced to the second stage, he won the first stage by four at the Auburn University Club in Auburn, Ala.

Each stage becomes more difficult. This time, there are guys like Weekley—who have been out there and experienced what it's like to compete on the big stage—among the competitors.

Here's hoping Randolph has more good golf in the bag, as he continues his quest to play with the big boys.

Randolph Starts Q School On Fire

They say that PGA TOUR qualifying school is one of the most grueling tests in sports. There is prequalifying and then three stages after that with four rounds in each of the first three and six in the final stage. That's a lot of golf and mental grinding, especially if you start from the beginning stage.

PGA golfer Steve Elkington joked recently that it's like paying $4500 for a roller coaster ride that makes you sick.

Former Ole Miss All-American Jonathan Randolph took the first step this weekend in his goal of becoming a member of the PGA TOUR, and he did so in rousing fashion.

The Brandon, Miss., native didn't just advance to the second stage, he won the first stage by four strokes at the Auburn University Club in Auburn, Ala. Randolph shot a 69-72-70-65--276 in his first ever Q School event. He was tied for the lead at 5-under going into the final round Saturday, and carded seven birdies and an eagle to capture the win.

"It was fun. I played really well the last few days managing the ball well, Randolph said. "It was windy the first couple of days. I was 3-under early yesterday and ended up 2-under. But I kept pushing, kept my head down. I missed three putts inside five feet today that would have made it even lower. It's nice to see it all come together."

Randolph was exempt from prequalifying by virtue of making the cut at the PGA Tour's Viking Classic this past summer in Madison. He only needed to finish inside the top 19 to earn a spot in the second stage.

"You don't drive a car looking at the ditch or in the median. You look at the road. My goal was to advance, but it was a nice bonus to be able to win it," he said.

There is not much time for Randolph to celebrate as he returns to Oxford, where he is finishing up his degree in Managerial Finance before he heads back out for the second stage at the Hombre Golf Club in Panama City, Fla. Nov. 16-19.

With six different sites for qualifying, players are told to rank their choices in order of preference.

"They told me I would likely get the Hombre since I won here at Auburn," Randolph said. "Now it's back to the books and then getting ready for the next stage."

A keen follower this week of Randolph's play is Rebel head coach Ernest Ross, who is not surprised to see his former star do so well.

"This is another notch up the ladder for Jonathan. He does have PGA TOUR skills and can play at that level right now."

Simply put, Randolph's a winner.

Former Golfer Saves A Few Dollars

PGA TOUR Q-School is expensive. It cost thousands to enter for a chance to earn playing status on the Tour. Former Ole Miss golfer Kyle Ellis finished sixth on the NGA Pro Golf Tour this year, and thus earned one of 30 Q-School Reimbursements.

Ellis, a native of Senatobia, Miss., finished with 3,716 points and made 19 of 20 cuts this season. He also racked up seven top-20 finishes. Ellis’ best finish of the season came in the Michelob Ultra Classic in March, when he finished second. The former Rebel golfer earned $64,657 this season.

Randolph Among World's Best At U.S. Am

Former Rebel All-American Jonathan Randolph is teeing it up with the world's best this week at the U.S. Amateur Championship being played at Erin Hills Golf Club in Michigan. Randolph earned a spot in the elite field by winning a qualifier in Maryland.

This is his second time to compete in the U.S. Am as he also qualified in 2009. Earlier this summer, Randolph advanced to the semifinals at the U.S. Amateur Public Links, played at Bandon Dunes, a similar links style course to Erin Hills.

Randolph tees off the first round today at 11:15 a.m. CT. Scores for the first two rounds of stroke play will be updated after nine holes. The field will be cut to the low 64 after Tuesday's second round of stroke play. Match play begins Wednesday with live hole-by-hole scoring.

Randolph Has The Last Word

In case you haven't seen it, former Rebel Jonathan Randolph sat down with Rebelvision for his "Last Word." Head on over to OleMissSports.com and check it out. Also, Randolph is featured in today's edition of the Daily Mississippian. Click here to read what the All-American had to say about his future and this week's Viking Classic.

Viking Classic To Have Mississippi Flavor

Former Rebel golfer Jonathan Randolph recently finished up an outstanding run to the semifinals at the U.S. Amateur Public Links, and late Thursday night he was rewarded yet again with his second sponsor's exemption to the PGA TOUR's Viking Classic to be played July 14-17 at Annandale in Madison. Check out this blog entry from the Clarion-Ledger's Ross Dellenger.

What A Week For Randolph

Former Ole Miss golfer Jonathan Randolph had a quite a week in Bandon, Ore., site of the U.S. Amateur Public Links. The Brandon, Miss., native finished second in the stroke play qualifying and then advanced to the semifinals of match play, in just his first ever appearance in the prestigious field. David Shefter, senior writer for USGA.org, caught up with the 2010 All-American prior to his semifinal match against UNLV's Derek Ernst. Click here to read the article.

Randolph Tackles Links Course

One would think as a native Mississippian, that former Ole Miss golfer Jonathan Randolph would find the going tough at Bandon Dunes Resort in Oregon - site of this week's U.S. Am Public Links Championship - as it is a links style course. Not so. The All-American shot even par 70-71--141 to finish second in stroke play qualifying and earn the No. 2 seed in match play, which begins today. Check out this story by Michael Trostel of the USGA.

Joe David and Jonathan Randolph
Joining Randolph in match play is rising senior Joe David of Madison, Tenn. The two were teammates for three years and helped the Rebels to three NCAA Regional appearances. This week, they're enjoying playing in Oregon and hoping a Rebel can take home the trophy. Randolph faces Max McKay of St. Augustine, Fla., at 12:40 p.m. CT. David meets Derek Ernst of Clovis, Calif. at 2:20 p.m. Live hole-by-hole scoring is available at www.USGA.org.

Chasing The Dream

Former Ole Miss golfer Kyle Ellis is in his third year on the mini tours still chasing his dream of a career on the PGA TOUR. The Clarion-Ledger caught up with the former Rebel and Senatobia native in its latest weekly column on amateur and professional golf. Click here to read more on Ellis and his latest happenings on the NGA Hooter's Tour.

He's A Winner

Last weekend former Rebel golfer Dori Carter won her first professional tour title. This weekend it was another former Ole Miss golfer's turn to win his first title. Senatobia, Miss., native Kyle Ellis captured the NGA Hooters Tour Chattahoochee Hospice Classic at Overlook Golf Links.



Click here to read about his win.

Sullivan Ready For Glory's Last Shot

Glory's last shot as it's become known, the PGA Championship gets underway this week at Whistling Straights in Wisconsin. Former Rebel Chip Sullivan is among the field competing in the year's final major championship. Sullivan, the club professional at Hanging Rock in Virginia, qualified for this week's PGA Tour Championship by finishing in the top 10 of the PGA Club Pro Championship in July. Sullivan, the 1986 SEC Champion, has won more than 80 PGA sanctioned events during his career.

A local TV station in Virginia caught up with Sullivan as he was practicing for the PGA Championship.

Click here to see the interview.

Mississippi Native Returns For Hooters Event

Former Ole Miss golfer and Mississippi native Kyle Ellis is back home this week playing in the NGA Hooters Gold Strike Casino Classic in Tunica. The Senatobia native opened with a 68 on Thursday, and then fired a 67 Friday to move up to a tie for eighth. Ellis is enjoying success this year on the Hooters Tour as he is currently 11th in the NGA Hooters standings.

Jesse Speirs, who completed an All-SEC career in 2009 with the Rebels, is also competing this week and made the cut.

Living The Dream

Every kid who starts out playing competitive golf dreams of one day playing on the PGA TOUR. Some make it and and a lot don't. Former Ole Miss All-American Jonathan Bartlett dreamed of making it on the TOUR. Unfortunately a recurring back injury derailed his professional career before it every really got started. This week, he gets a chance to live that dream, as he tees it up in the PGA TOUR's Greenbrier Classic at the Greenbrier Old White Course in Sulphur Springs, West Va. Bartlett received an exemption into the event after capturing the West Virginia State Amateur Championship earlier this summer.

Golfweek's Adam Schupak caught up with the former Rebel All-American for a story. Click here to read it.

Oh Canada!

Former Ole Miss golfer Vance Veazey (Memphis, Tenn.) equaled the course record (64) at St. George's Golf and Country Club in the first round of the RBC Canadian Open.

Veazey, who has only made four cuts in 14 PGA Tour events this season, fired the 6-under 64 at the par-70, 7,079-yard layout to take the lead midway through the first round.

Veazey’s round included seven birdies and a bogey. His round equaled the competitive course record, set by Canada’s George Knudson in the third round of the 1968 Canadian Open.

Sullivan 'Aces' PGA Test

It seems everywhere you turn these days former Ole Miss golfers are making headlines. The latest is 1986 SEC Champion Chip Sullivan. The former Rebel qualified for the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits with a T6th at the PGA Professional National Championship Wednesday. Sullivan, the head professional at Hanging Rock Golf Club in Salem, Va., shot 69-73-71-73--286. The highlight of Sullivan's week came on Tuesday, when he aced the 192-yard 13th hole. Read about how that ace improved his week.

Another Rebel Golfer To Lead USF

There is no shortage of Rebels in the University of South Florida's golf programs. Marci Kornegay teed it up for the Ole Miss women from 1998-2001 and is now in her fourth season as the Bulls head coach. And on Tuesday, USF handed the reigns of their men's program to another Rebel with the naming of Chris Malloy as their new head coach. Malloy was a big part of some successful Ole Miss teams during his time in Oxford, competing in the NCAA Tournament in 1999 and 2000.

Ironically, one of Malloy's teammates, Jon Bartlett, is also in the news today. The former Rebel All-American had his pro career cut short by injury, but he returned to the links over the weekend for an upset win at the West Virginia State Amateur. The win earned him a spot in the PGA Tour Greenbrier Classic, which starts July 28 on Bartlett's home Greenbrier course — the same course he just won on — in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.

Other notable Rebels from that team include Haymes Snedeker of Big Break X fame and musician Josh Kelley, who certainly outkicked his coverage. A great group of guys that have gone on to great things.

Rogers Makes The Cut

Former Ole Miss golfer Chris Rogers will be around for the weekend at the St. Jude Classic in Memphis as he shot 69-70--139 to make the cut. The Nashville, Tenn., native earned his way into the field through a qualifier at the beginning of the week. Rogers is tied for 32nd after two rounds in just his second ever PGA TOUR event. He also qualified for the St. Jude in 2008, but did not make the cut.



Chris Rogers holes out of the sand for a birdie on hole 6 during the first round of play at the St. Jude Classic Thursday at Southwind. (Photo by Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

Walking In Memphis

Former Ole Miss golfer Chris Rogers is back in Memphis this week playing in the PGA TOUR's St. Jude Classic presented by Smith & Nephew. Rogers, a member of the Nationwide and eGolf Tours, shot 63 in a qualifier earlier this week to get in, and then carded a 1-under 69 in the first round Thursday at Southwind.



This marks the second time in three years for Rogers, a native of Nashville, Tenn., to qualify for the St. Jude. He also qualified in 2008, but just missed the cut.

As a senior in 2007, Rogers helped lead the Rebels to their first of four consecutive NCAA Regional appearances.