ELLISVILLE – The Jones County Junior College Bobcats will open the 2009 golf season with a 36-hole MACJC Tournament at Laurel Country Club.

The tournament is set for Feb. 16-17 (Monday and Tuesday) at one of the state’s oldest and most prestigious golf courses. There will be 8:30 a.m. shotgun starts on both days of the tournament.

There are seven players currently listed on this year’s roster.

Sophomore Nick Keyes of West Jones and Ben Whitehead of Sumrall return from last year’s squad, while sophomore Rocky Purvis of South Jones will be playing his first year of college golf. Newcomers are freshmen Rahn Tew of West Jones, Chase Powell of Mize, Clarke Boatner of Clarkdale, and Mitchell Smith, a Mt. Olive native who prepped at Simpson Academy.

Ed Smith has served as head coach of the Bobcat golf program for the past 12 years, while Casey Carter will be coaching the squad this season.

“We only have two returning sophomores from last year,” said Smith. “We have several freshmen who actually had the opportunity to play in some tournaments this fall and that helped get them a little experience.

“But we are excited about getting the season started.”

Ed Smith said all of the players have been working hard in the preseason, but Mitchell Smith has stood out with his potential.

“We are really excited about Mitchell,” he said. “He is a dual-sport athlete and also plays tennis. He has an opportunity to be a scratch golfer. Mitchell has a chance to be the best golfer that we have had to play here in a long time.”

Last year, JCJC golfer Shayne Elsner of Mountain View High School in Bend, Ore., was an All-Region 23 performer and participated in the NJCAA Division III Tournament in Chautauqua, N.Y.

After the tournament at Laurel CC, the MACJC circuit includes stops at Eagle Ridge Golf Club in Raymond, Forest Country Club, Wolf Hollow Golf Club in Wesson and The Ridge Golf Club in Corinth. The State Tournament is scheduled for Kirkwood National Golf Club in Holly Springs, while the Region 23 Tournament will be at the Mississippi State University Golf Course in Starkville.

For a roster and tournament schedule, go to www.jcjc.edu.