The University of Mississippi Athletics
Moving In the Right Direction
10/18/2005 | Men's Golf
Oct. 18, 2005
By Katy Lonergan
Assistant Director, Athletics Media Relations
The 2004-05 version of the Ole Miss Men's Golf team was one of ups and downs under returning head coach Ernest Ross. Ross, who was the head coach for the Rebels from 1979-87, returned to lead his Alma Mater again in the fall of 2004.
While Ross quickly got the Rebels moving in the right direction with a fall season record of 54-14-2 (.786) just one season after going 23-42-2 (.358), the team relied heavily on outgoing senior Jordan Dempsey. Dempsey earned First Team All-SEC honors and competed as an individual at the NCAA East Regionals in Nashville, finishing fifth among the individuals. Dempsey also earned honorable mention All-America honors from the Golf Coaches Association of America after leading the SEC with a 71.60 stroke average for the year.
"Jordan made tremendous contributions with his scores and his leadership," said Ross. "I am very proud he made All American last season, we really miss him this year."
With Dempsey departed, it is time for some other Rebel golfers to step up and try to fill the void of one of the SEC's top golfers. While those shoes may seem large to fill, Ole Miss has a group of juniors, primed and ready to attempt to do just that.
Although Ole Miss has two seniors on the roster in Derek Abel and Adam Swope, Ross is expecting the big push to come from his four-man junior class. Brice Bailey, Kyle Ellis, Callum Macaulay and Chris Rogers have each had exciting moments thus far in their career, but now will be expected to perform on a consistent basis.
"Our junior class is the backbone of our program right now," said Ross. "It is very evident, as all four have been major contributors this fall. You expect leadership from veterans and we have gotten leadership from them this fall, but I am expecting even more throughout the year."
Rogers, a native of Franklin, Tenn., returns as the leader in stroke average after posting a 73.78 average last season, which ranked second on the team in 2004-05. He collected a top-10 finish with a tie for seventh at the Raising Cane Classic in Hattiesburg, Miss., in September of 2004. His career-best tournament score of 69-74-69--212 at the Raising Cane Classic helped the team to its first tournament title since March 21, 1999.
"Chris has been great his fall," said Ross. "He has a great attitude on and off course. Chris has one of best short games on the team. He manages to chip more shots in than any player I have witnessed in college golf."
Ellis played in eight tournaments for Ole Miss last season collecting the team's third-best season stroke average of 74.09. He was second on the team with three top-five, top-10 and top-20 finishes and seven rounds at even or under par. Ellis tied for first at the Raising Cane Classic with a 70-65-71--206 to earn the Rebels' first individual tournament title since March 13, 2001. His second-round 65 at the Raising Cane Classic marked the squad's lowest 18-hole effort of the season and the fourth-best in school history.
"Kyle is coming back to his form from last fall when he tied for first in the Raising Cane," said Ross. "He had back a lower back injury slow him down after that and has been a little inconsistent. However, we are expecting big things from him for the remainder of year."
Macaulay played in nine of Ole Miss' 11 tournaments and 26 rounds, recording a season stroke average of 75.88. The Scotland native was third on the team in 2004-05 with one top-five, one top-10 and two top-20 efforts. Macaulay finished tied for second on the squad with seven rounds at even or under par. He carded his low tournament score and recorded his best finish of the season and his career with a tie for fifth-place 211 (68-72-71) at the Mason Rudolph Championships in Franklin, Tenn. His first-round 68 at that tourney was also a career best.
"Callum may be the most improved player from last year to this year," said Ross. "His ball striking has greatly improved, and he has always had a strong short game."
Rounding out the class is Bailey. The winner of the Memphis City Amateur this summer played in five tournaments, including the last four of the season, and a total of 15 rounds in 2004-05. He registered a season stroke average of 76.73, while carding a season-best 224 (76-73-75) for a season-best tie for 26th place at the Seminole Intercollegiate in Tallahassee, Fla. His second-round 73 at that tournament was his low round of the season.
"Brice had great summer," said Ross. "He has worked very hard on his game all year. He has been a little inconsistent this fall, but I am definitely counting on him for leadership. I know Brice has an ultimate desire to play on the PGA tour. I think he has the talent to do so."
While replacing an All-American is never an easy thing to do, with these four juniors leading the way for the Rebel golf team, things are moving in the right direction.
