ABOUT THE W:
O W L S
2023-24 AT-A-GLANCE:
• 2024 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Men’s Golf Champion
• 4 All-SLIAC finishers: Matt Wilkinson (1st team), Zach Riley (1st team), Cameron James (2nd team), Luke Yocum (2nd team)
• Benji Williams – SLIAC Men’s Golf Coach of the Year
• The Owls won five tournaments in 2023-24: Lyon College Scots Fall Classic (9/26-27/23); Freed-Hardeman Fall Invitational (10/16-17/23); Rose-Hulman Music City Shootout (3/23/24); Spalding Alabama Invasion (3/9-10/24), and; SLIAC Championship
• Four (4) different individuals have been the Owls’ top finishers at tournaments this season: Spence Davis (3), Zach Riley (2), Matthew Phillips (2), and Matt Wilkinson (2)
• The 2024 NCAA Division III Championships are MUW’s first-ever NCAA III post-season bid in the modern athletics era of its school history (since 2017) in any sport.
HEAD COACH BENJI WILLIAMS:
YEARS AS THE W HEAD COACH IN 2023-24: 6th men / 4th women
Benji Williams is the only head coach The W programs have known, starting the men's team in 2018 and the women's program in 2020.
In 2023-24 – MUW’s first as an NCAA Division III and St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) member – Williams’ men’s team made history by winning the SLIAC to give The W its first-ever conference title, as well as the University’s first-ever NCAA Division III national championships berth. At the SLIAC championships, the Owls set a team tournament record for the lowest round ever recorded on the third, and final, day (with a 274), and with all five players finishing in red numbers. Four players – Matt Wilkinson (1st team), Zach Rile (1st team), Cameron James (2nd team), and Luke Yocum (2nd team) – earned All-SLIAC accolades, and Williams was voted as the SLIAC Coach of the Year, with Wilkinson also earning All-Sportsmanship Team honors. In the fall, the MUW women’s team placed fifth in the SLIAC, with Olivia Derbyshire earning second-team All-SLIAC honors. Ta’Dashia Flowers was voted to the SLIAC All-Sportsmanship Team, as well as playing in the PGA Works Collegiate Championship for a second-consecutive season
Williams' 2022-23 teams again produced at a high level. The W men were second at the USCAA championships and finished with two first-team All-Americans: Zach Riley and Logan Pannell. Additionally, the Owls brought home the USCAA's Student-Athlete of the Year award for both the men (Pannell) and women (Ta'Dashia
Flowers). MUW earned a total of four USCAA All-Academic Team recognitions. Flowers was picked to play in the PGA Works Collegiate Championship, which spotlights underserved ethnicities.
The 2021-22 Owls produced another outstanding season on both the men's and women's front. The W men tied for third in the USCAA championships. Senior Brady Scola was the USCAA Student-Athlete of the Year and teammates Timothy Turnage (first team) and Zach Riley (second team) had all-American finishes. Scola and Logan Pannell were selected to the USCAA All-academic Team.
Freshman Olivia Derbyshire became the second-consecutive Owl to earn medalist honors at the USCAA women's invitational. Two players - Chesne Joyner and Ta'Daisha Flowers - were USCAA All-Academic Team honorees.
The 2020-21 season was a major success for both teams with both teams almost completing a clean sweep of USCAA post-season awards. Williams was named Coach of the Year, while women's golf player Joyner was named Women's Golf Student-Athlete of the Year. Senior Brandon Walker finished the USCAA 2021 National Golf Championship in first place, individually, to help lead the team to a second-place finish while Emma Coggins placed first as an individual in the women's competition.
Walker and Coleman Suber were named to the men's All-American First Team. Riley and Pannell received AllAmerican Second Team recognition. Walker, Suber, Pannell, and Scola also received USCAA All-Academic Team honors.
During the 2019-20 season, the Owls men's golf team placed fifth in the USCAA National Championship. Coleman Suber was the top contender for the Owls, placing 14th overall and receiving 2019 USCAA AllAmerican Second Team honors.
In its inaugural season in 2018-19, the Owls made their first appearance in the USCAA National Golf Championship and finished third. Junior golfer Brandon Walker tied for sixth place and received All-American First Team honors and freshman Scola finished eighth for All-American Second Team honors.
Prior to The W, Williams spent four seasons as the head men’s golf coach at East Mississippi Community College. In his debut season, Williams led the Lions to a second-place finish in the 2015 MACJC State Golf Championship, marking the fourth time in a five-year stint that EMCC had- earned state runner-up golf honors as a team.
Individual accolades for golfers under his direction include Joey Partin earning All-America second-team honors by finishing in a 14th-place tie in the spring of 2016 at the NJCAA Division II Championship and Steven Eilders and Hunter Harmon receiving MACJC second-team all-state honors in 2015.
A three-sport athlete at Sulligent (Ala.) High School, Williams attended Concordia College in Selma, Ala., on a baseball scholarship. While in college, he developed a passion for the game of golf and immediately began to pave his career path.
Upon graduation from Concordia College in 2011, with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, Williams married his high school sweetheart - the former Michelle Chandler - and the newlyweds moved to Port St. Lucie, Fla., to jointly attend the College of Golf at Keiser University. With an associate’s degree and a perfect 4.0 grade point average in professional golf management, Williams’ first job in the golf business was at The PGA Learning and Performance Center in Port St. Lucie.
During his final semester at Keiser University, where he was a member of the school’s golf team, Williams and his wife headed to Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla., for an eight-week internship. Following graduation, the couple moved back to their hometown to open a pro shop at Oak Hill Country Club in Sulligent. Advancement
continued for Williams in the golf business, as he soon became an assistant golf professional at the 36-hole Craft Farms Golf Resort in Gulf Shores, Ala.
Williams qualified on his first attempt to become certified as a PGA Apprentice Level 1 in the PGA Golf Management Program 2.0. In July 2012, he shot 75-72 (147) on the Ryder Course at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie to qualify.
Williams, who still competes on a professional level, gives golf lessons and runs instructional golf camps as the head professional at Elm Lake Golf Course. His wife also passed her LPGA playing ability test and works parttime at Lion Hills assisting with the pro shop and giving golf lessons.
The couple are the parents of a son, Bentley Chandler.
OWLS GRADUATE ASSISTANT COACHES:
Scott Milam
Brandon Jordan
THE OWLS’ LINEUP:
PREVIOUS SCHOOL: Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (Fr.) / East Mississippi Community College (So.)
HIGH SCHOOL: Madison Central H.S. (2021) … Coached by Todd Beach
PERSONAL: Son of Frank Davis and Angel McDonald … has a brother (Robbie) and a sister (Miriam) … enjoys hunting in his free time … a Business Management major at The W … wants a career as an insurance agent.
2023-24:
U. Discover Dekalb Invitational
Tournament Date(s) Rounds Scores Par Rank LeTourneau Tempest Invitational 9/11-12/23 3 75-71-87=233 +17 32nd/63 Scots Fall Invitational 9/26-27/23 2 80-73=153 +9 20th/52 FHU Fall Invitational 10/16-17/23 2 76-79=155 +11 11th/60 Rose-Hulman Music City Shootout 3/2-3/24 2 71-72=143 +3 1st/69 Spalding
Alabama Invasion 3/9-10/24 2 76-74=150 +6 2nd/0 Centenary Hal Sutton Invitational 3/18-19/24 2 79-78=157 +13 20th/49 Emory
4/20-4/21/2024 3 75-75-79=229 +13 11th/67 SLIAC Championships 4/28-30/24 3 80-74-70=224 +11 24th/65 SEASON TOTALS 19 1444 Avg. 76.00 +4 -
U.
THE OWLS’ LINEUP:
MUW CAREER: 2023-24- MUW Male Athlete of the Year … All-SLIAC 1st team 2022-23 – USCAA AllAmerican 1st team … USCAA team runner-up … 2021-22- USCAA All-American 2nd team … USCAA team third place … 2020-21- USCAA All-American 2nd team … USCAA team runner-up … 2019-20- USCAA team 5th place.
HIGH SCHOOL: DeSoto Central H.S. (2019).
PERSONAL: Son of Mike and Elisa Riley … has a brother (Austin) and sister (Emily) … enjoys hunting and fishing in his spare time … a Business major at The W
2023-24:
Music City Shootout
Spalding U. Alabama Invasion
Centenary Hal Sutton Invitational
Emory U. Discover Dekalb Invitational
Tournament Date(s) Rounds Scores Par Rank LeTourneau Tempest Invitational 9/11-12/23 3 74-77-69=220 +4 9th/63 Scots Fall Invitational 9/26-27/23 2 75-71=146 +2 8th/52 FHU Fall Invitational 10/16-17/23 2 73-69=142 -2 1st/60 West
Invitational 10/23-24/23 3 71-77-73=221 +5 6th/51 Rose-Hulman
3/2-3/24 2 75-72=147 +7 5th/69
3/9-10/24 2 77-76=153 +9 3rd/0
3/18-19/24 2 78-74=152 +8 10th/49
Georgia Matt Dyas
4/20-4/21/2024 3 80-79-75=234 +18 23rd/67 SLIAC Championships 4/28-30/24 3 71-75-67=213 E 4th/65 SEASON
22 1628 Avg. 74.00 +2 -
TOTALS
THE OWLS’ LINEUP:
MUW CAREER: 2023-24- All-SLIAC 2nd team.
PREVIOUS SCHOOL: Three seasons at nearby Meridian Community College (2020-23).
HIGH SCHOOL: Porters Chapel Academy (2020) … Coach was Kevin Neihaus … also played baseball, football, and basketball for the Eagles.
PERSONAL: Son of Dale and Amanda Yocum … has one sister (Cameron) … a Business major at The W.
2023-24:
U. Discover Dekalb
Tournament Date(s) Rounds Scores Par Rank Scots Fall Invitational 9/26-27/23 2 80-74=154 +10 24th/52 West Georgia Matt Dyas Invitational 10/23-24/23 3 79-83-84=246 +30 43rd/51 Spalding U.
Invasion 3/9-10/24 2 82-74=156 +12 7th/0 Centenary Hal Sutton Invitational 3/18-19/24 2 81-73=154 +10 13th/49
Invitational 4/20-4/21/2024 3 74-83-76=233 +17 20TH/67 SLIAC Championships 4/28-30/24 3 75-73-69=217 +4 10th/65 SEASON TOTALS 15 1160 Avg. 77.33 +6 -
Alabama
Emory
THE OWLS’ LINEUP:
MUW CAREER: 2023-24- All-SLIAC 1st team … was the SLIAC runner-up finisher.
PREVIOUS SCHOOL: One season at William Carey University in 2022-23 … prior to that, spent two seasons at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College … as a freshman (2020-21) and was an NJCAA Ping All-American and an NJCAA AllFreshman Team honoree … as a sophomore (2021-22), won the NJCAA National Championship Preview tourney.
HIGH SCHOOL: A graduate of Madison Central H.S. (2020) … Coach was Todd Beach.
PERSONAL: Son of Bert and Tina Wilkinson … has two sisters (Brittany and Rachel) … hobbies are fishing, hunting, and metal detecting … has his own landscape marketplace mobile app … a General Business major at The W. 2023-24:
Tournament Date(s) Rounds Scores Par Rank LeTourneau Tempest Invitational 9/11-12/23 3 74-71-78=223 +7 14th/63 Scots Fall Invitational 9/26-27/23 2 74-69=143 -1 2nd/52 FHU Fall Invitational 10/16-17/23 2 75-79=154 +10 8th/60 West Georgia Matt Dyas Invitational 10/23-24/23 3 85-80-81=246 +30 46th/51 Rose-Hulman Music City Shootout 3/2-3/24 2 72-75=147 +7 5th/69 Spalding U. Alabama Invasion 3/9-10/24 2 85-79=164 +20 22nd/0 Emory U. Discover Dekalb Invitational 4/20-4/21/2024 3 80-78-77=235 +19 27th /67 SLIAC Championships 4/28-30/24 3 71-73-68=212 -1 2nd/65 SEASON TOTALS 20 1524 Avg. 76.20 +5 -
THE OWLS’ LINEUP:
MUW CAREER: 2023-24- All-SLIAC 2nd team.
PREVIOUS SCHOOL: Nova Southeastern University (did not play golf).
HIGH SCHOOL: Southcoast Community H.S. (2022) … Coached by Kelli Erianne … also played Lacrosse as a prep.
PERSONAL: Son of Rohan and Amanda James … has a sister (Liberty) … aviation is his hobby … volunteers with Junior Golf Camp program … a Business major, with a sports management concentration.
2023-24:
Tournament Date(s) Rounds Scores Par Rank LeTourneau Tempest Invitational 9/11-12/23 3 79-75-72=226 +10 20th/63 Scots Fall Invitational 9/26-27/23 2 76-73=149 +5 15th/52 Rose-Hulman Music City Shootout 3/2-3/24 2 77-74=151 +11 16th/69 Spalding
Alabama Invasion 3/9-10/24 2 83-76=159 +15 14th/0 Emory
Invitational 4/20-4/21/2024 3 81-84-81=246 +30 51st/67 SLIAC Championships 4/28-30/24 3 75-72-70=217 +4 10th/65 SEASON TOTALS 15 1148 Avg. 76.53 +5 -
U.
U. Discover Dekalb
2023-24 The W Men's Golf Season Statistics
Low Par/- Finish Top Rel. Player Rounds Strokes Round Rounds Events 1 5 10 To Par Average Zach Riley 22 1628 67 6 9 1 4 8 +2 74.00 Matthew Phillips 14 1051 69 4 6 - 3 4 +3 75.07 Spence Davis 19 1444 70 2 8 1 2 2 +4 76.00 Matt Wilkinson 20 1524 68 4 8 - 3 4 +5 76.20 Cameron James 15 1148 70 2 6 - - 1 +5 76.53 Luke Yocum 15 1160 69 1 6 - - 2 +6 77.33 Kemit Spears Jr. 10 781 75 - 4 - - - +6 78.10 Caleb Jennings 10 781 74 - 4 - - - +6 78.10 Logan Pannell 13 1020 72 - 6 - 2 2 +7 78.46 Seth Wallace 4 320 73 - 2 - - - +8 80.00 Mark Furnari - - - - - - - - -Carson Suber - - - - - - - - -FOUR-PLAYER TEAM 22 6580 274 19 9 2 14 23 +12 299.09 Tournament Dates Rounds Place Teams Players Par Score LeTourneau Tempest Invitational 9/11-12/23 3 2 8 63 +8 872 Scots Fall Invitational 9/26-27/23 2 1 8 52 +7 583 FHU Fall Invitational 10/16-17/23 2 1 9 60 +30 606 West Georgia Matt Dyas Invitational 10/23-24/23 3 6 9 51 +65 929 Rose-Hulman Music City Shootout 3/2-3/24 2 1 13 69 +23 583 Spalding U. Alabama Invasion 3/9-10/24 2 1 10 0 +40 616 Centenary Hal Sutton Invitational 3/18-19/24 2 2 8 49 +35 611 Emory U. Discover Dekalb Invitational 4/20-4/21/2024 3 0 0 0 +58 922 SLIAC Championships 4/28-30/24 3 1 13 65 +6 858
Team low rounds
1. 274 (-10) - SLIAC Championships, 4/28-30/24 (3rd round)
2. 286 (-2) - Scots Fall Invitational, 9/26-27/23 (2nd round)
3. 288 (E) - LeTourneau Tempest Invitational, 9/11-12/23 (2nd round)
4. 292 (+4) - LeTourneau Tempest Invitational, 9/11-12/23 (1st round)
292 (+4) - LeTourneau Tempest Invitational, 9/11-12/23 (3rd round)
6. 292 (+8) - SLIAC Championships, 4/28-30/24 (1st round)
292 (+8) - SLIAC Championships, 4/28-30/24 (2nd round)
296 (+8) - Centenary Hal Sutton Invitational, 3/18-19/24 (2nd round)
9. 297 (+9) - Scots Fall Invitational, 9/26-27/23 (1st round)
10. 290 (+10) - Rose-Hulman Music City Shootout, 3/2-3/24 (2nd round)
Player low rounds
1. 67 (-4) - Zach Riley, SLIAC Championships, 4/28-30/24 (3rd round)
2. 68 (-3) - Matt Wilkinson, SLIAC Championships, 4/28-30/24 (3rd round)
69 (-3) - Matthew Phillips, LeTourneau Tempest Invitational, 9/11-12/23 (1st round)
69 (-3) - Zach Riley, LeTourneau Tempest Invitational, 9/11-12/23 (3rd round)
69 (-3) - Matt Wilkinson, Scots Fall Invitational, 9/26-27/23 (2nd round)
69 (-3) - Zach Riley, FHU Fall Invitational, 10/16-17/23 (2nd round)
7. 69 (-2) - Luke Yocum, SLIAC Championships, 4/28-30/24 (3rd round)
8. 70 (-1) - Cameron James, SLIAC Championships, 4/28-30/24 (3rd round)
70 (-1) - Spence Davis, SLIAC Championships, 4/28-30/24 (3rd round)
71 (-1) - Matt Wilkinson, LeTourneau Tempest Invitational, 9/11-12/23 (2nd round)
71 (-1) - Matthew Phillips, LeTourneau Tempest Invitational, 9/11-12/23 (2nd round)
71 (-1) - Spence Davis, LeTourneau Tempest Invitational, 9/11-12/23 (2nd round)
71 (-1) - Matthew Phillips, Scots Fall Invitational, 9/26-27/23 (2nd round)
71 (-1) - Zach Riley, Scots Fall Invitational, 9/26-27/23 (2nd round)
71 (-1) - Zach Riley, West Georgia Matt Dyas Invitational, 10/23-24/23 (1st round)
71 (-1) - Matthew Phillips, Centenary Hal Sutton Invitational, 3/18-19/24 (2nd round)
17. 71 (E) - Matt Wilkinson, SLIAC Championships, 4/28-30/24 (1st round)
71 (E) - Zach Riley, SLIAC Championships, 4/28-30/24 (1st round)
72 (E) - Cameron James, LeTourneau Tempest Invitational, 9/11-12/23 (3rd round)
20. 71 (+1) - Spence Davis, Rose-Hulman Music City Shootout, 3/2-3/24 (1st round)
72 (+1) - Cameron James, SLIAC Championships, 4/28-30/24 (2nd round)
73 (+1) - Cameron James, Scots Fall Invitational, 9/26-27/23 (2nd round)
73 (+1) - Seth Wallace, Scots Fall Invitational, 9/26-27/23 (2nd round)
28.
73 (+1) - Spence Davis, Scots Fall Invitational, 9/26-27/23 (2nd round)
73 (+1) - Zach Riley, FHU Fall Invitational, 10/16-17/23 (1st round)
73 (+1) - Zach Riley, West Georgia Matt Dyas Invitational, 10/23-24/23 (3rd round)
73 (+1) - Luke Yocum, Centenary Hal Sutton Invitational, 3/18-19/24 (2nd round)
72 (+2) - Matt Wilkinson, Rose-Hulman Music City Shootout, 3/2-3/24 (1st round)
72 (+2) - Logan Pannell, Rose-Hulman Music City Shootout, 3/2-3/24 (2nd round)
72 (+2) - Spence Davis, Rose-Hulman Music City Shootout, 3/2-3/24 (2nd round)
72 (+2) - Zach Riley, Rose-Hulman Music City Shootout, 3/2-3/24 (2nd round)
73 (+2) - Luke Yocum, SLIAC Championships, 4/28-30/24 (2nd round)
73 (+2) - Matt Wilkinson, SLIAC Championships, 4/28-30/24 (2nd round)
74 (+2) - Matt Wilkinson, LeTourneau Tempest Invitational, 9/11-12/23 (1st round)
74 (+2) - Zach Riley, LeTourneau Tempest Invitational, 9/11-12/23 (1st round)
74 (+2) - Caleb Jennings, Scots Fall Invitational, 9/26-27/23 (1st round)
74 (+2) - Matt Wilkinson, Scots Fall Invitational, 9/26-27/23 (1st round)
74 (+2) - Matthew Phillips, Scots Fall Invitational, 9/26-27/23 (1st round)
74 (+2) - Luke Yocum, Scots Fall Invitational, 9/26-27/23 (2nd round)
74 (+2) - Luke Yocum, Spalding U. Alabama Invasion, 3/9-10/24 (2nd round)
74 (+2) - Spence Davis, Spalding U. Alabama Invasion, 3/9-10/24 (2nd round)
74 (+2) - Zach Riley, Centenary Hal Sutton Invitational, 3/18-19/24 (2nd round)
74 (+2) - Caleb Jennings, Emory U. Discover Dekalb Invitational, 4/20-4/21/2024 (1st round)
74 (+2) - Luke Yocum, Emory U. Discover Dekalb Invitational, 4/20-4/21/2024 (1st round)
45. +3 - 14 times
2023-24 The W Men's Golf Match-by-Match Team Results
9/11-12/23 -- LeTourneau Tempest Invitational
Tempest GC Gladewater, TX
Par 72, 7229 yards 8 teams, 63 players MUW
Caleb
Spence Davis#
9/26-27/23 -- Scots Fall Invitational
The Course at Eagle Mountain Batesville, AR
Par 72, 6790 yards 8 teams, 52 players MUW
10/16-17/23 -- FHU Fall Invitational
Chickasaw GC -- Henderson, TN
Par 72, 7118 yards -- 9 teams, 60 players MUW
Spence
Matthew
292 288 292
69 71 75 215 -1
Zach Riley 74 77 69 220 +4
Wilkinson 74 71 78 223 +7 14th
James 79 75 72 226 +10 20th
Men's Golf
872 +8 2nd Matthew Phillips
4th
9th Matt
Cameron
Jennings 75 76 76 227 +11 21st
Spears Jr.# 77 78 75 230 +14 29th
Kemit
75 71 87 233 +17 32nd
Men's
297 286 583
Matt Wilkinson 74 69 143 -1
Matthew Phillips 74 71 145 +1 5th Zach Riley# 75 71 146 +2 8th Cameron James 76 73 149 +5 15th Kemit Spears Jr.# 76 75 151 +7 16th Spence Davis 80 73 153 +9 20th Caleb Jennings# 74 80 154 +10 24th Seth Wallace# 81 73 154 +10 24th
Yocum# 80 74 154 +10 24th
80 75 155 +11
Golf
+7 1st
2nd
Luke
Logan Pannell#
29th
Men's Golf 305 301 606 +30 1st Zach Riley 73 69 142 -2 1st
Wilkinson 75 79 154 +10 8th
Matt
Davis 76 79 155 +11 11th
Pannell 81 75 156 +12 15th
Logan
Phillips 82 76 158 +14 28th
10/23-24/23 -- West Georgia Matt Dyas Invitational
Oak Mountain GC Carrollton, GA
Par 72, 7102 yards 9 teams, 51 players
MUW Men's Golf 304 314 311 929 +65 6th
Zach Riley 71 77 73 221 +5 6th
Matthew Phillips 76 78 76 230 +14 21st
Kemit Spears Jr. 78 79 82 239 +23 37th
Luke Yocum 79 83 84 246 +30 43rd
Matt Wilkinson 85 80 81 246 +30 46th
3/2-3/24 -- Rose-Hulman Music City Shootout
Nashville National Golf Links Joellton, TN
Par 70, 6110 yards 13 teams, 69 players
MUW Men's Golf 293 290 583 +23 1st
Spence Davis 71 72 143 +3 1st
Zach Riley 75 72 147 +7 5th
Matt Wilkinson 72 75 147 +7 5th
Logan Pannell 76 72 148 +8 5th
Cameron James 77 74 151 +11 16th
3/9-10/24 -- Spalding U. Alabama Invasion
Cherokee Run GC Union Grove, AL
Par 72, 6356 yards -- 10 teams, 0 players
MUW Men's Golf 310 306 616 +40 1st
Spence Davis 76 74 150 +6 2nd
Zach Riley 77 76 153 +9 3rd
Logan Pannell 78 77 155 +11 5th
Matthew Phillips# 79 76 155 +11 5th
Luke Yocum# 82 74 156 +12 7th
Cameron James# 83 76 159 +15 14th
Kemit Spears Jr. 79 82 161 +17 14th
Matt Wilkinson 85 79 164 +20 22nd
Caleb Jennings# 78 87 165 +21 28th
Seth Wallace# 87 79 166 +22 32nd
3/18-19/24 -- Centenary Hal Sutton Invitational
The Club at Stonebridge Bossier City, LA
Par 72, 6815 yards 8 teams, 49 players
MUW Men's Golf 315 296 611 +35 2nd
Matthew Phillips 77 71 148 +4 6th
Zach Riley 78 74 152 +8 10th
Luke Yocum 81 73 154 +10 13th
Spence Davis 79 78 157 +13 20th
Logan Pannell 83 77 160 +16 27th
4/20-4/21/2024 -- Emory U. Discover Dekalb Invitational
Cherokee Run GC Conyers, GA
Par 72, 6905 yards 0 teams, 0 players
MUW Men's Golf 303 312 307 922 +58
Spence Davis 75 75 79 229 +13
Luke Yocum 74 83 76 233 +17
Zach Riley 80 79 75 234 +18
Caleb Jennings 74 80 81 235 +19
Matt Wilkinson 80 78 77 235 +19
Cameron James 81 84 81 246 +30
Logan Pannell# 84 79 83 246 +30
4/28-30/24 -- SLIAC Championships
Metamora Fields GC Metamora, IL
Par 71, 6685 yards 13 teams, 65 players
MUW Men's Golf 292 292 274 858 +6 1st
Matt Wilkinson 71 73 68 212 -1 2nd
Zach Riley 71 75 67 213 E 4th
Cameron James 75 72 70 217 +4 10th
Luke Yocum 75 73 69 217 +4 10th
Spence Davis 80 74 70 224 +11 24th
# Indicates individual player
When Mississippi University for Women was chartered in 1884, it made educational history as the first statesupported college for women in America. Our founding mothers had been persistent and tireless in their efforts, which had spanned over twenty years. Energetic campaigning in the 1860s and 1870s by activist Sallie Reneau had resulted in legislative approval, but no appropriations. A decade later Olivia Valentine Hastings and Annie Coleman Peyton joined forces to lobby legislators and journalists in support of a public women’s college. Originally known as The Industrial Institute and College (II & C), this institution was created by the Mississippi Legislature to provide a unique hybrid: a high-quality collegiate education for women coupled with practical vocational training. As one legislator said, it was a “Godsend” for the “poor girls of Mississippi.” In a time when intellectual training for women was considered by many to have disastrous consequences, Mississippi had the foresight to recognize that young women were going to have to be taught not only to think for themselves but also to support themselves.
The first session began in October of 1885 in Columbus, a city that had won the college by virtue of its early interest in women’s education and its willingness to commit hard cash to the endeavor.
The W has always shown an ability to adapt and change with the times. In 1920, shortly before newly enfranchised II & C graduates elected their former president Henry Whitfield Governor of Mississippi, The Industrial Institute and College became Mississippi State College for Women. This name more clearly reflected the institution’s merging of professional training with four-year collegiate degrees. By 1974, as all eight universities in Mississippi began adding and strengthening graduate programs, MSCW became Mississippi University for Women. But our alumni and friends affectionately call us The W.
Admitting men since 1982, MUW still provides a high-quality liberal arts education with a distinct emphasis on professional development and leadership opportunities for women.
HISTORY OF THE W:
HISTORY OF THE W ATHLETICS:
When it comes to sports and fitness, The W has a long history of being a leader. MUW has fielded athletics teams – in some incarnation – since its founding years in the late 1800s. But it wasn’t until the 1960s that official intercollegiate competitions appeared on campus.
As a matter of fact, The W won the 1971 National Invitational Women's Intercollegiate Basketball Tournament national championship. Just a year before Title IX became the law of the land, the Blues – as the team was known then - rolled through that NIT tourney and left some big-name programs in their wake. On its march to the school's first national championship in any team sport, The W defeated the likes of defending champion Cal State-Fullerton, East Stroudsburg State, North Carolina-Greensboro, and West Chester State. During the regular season, The W picked up wins over Ole Miss, Texas, Tarleton State, Texas Tech, and Southern Mississippi.
MUW was a member of NCAA Division II independent in the early 1990s. From 1993-2003, MUW was a member of NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference. In November 2002, a tornado ripped through the Columbus campus and destroyed the Physical Education and Assembly Hall. In addition to leveling the structure, gone were the physical archives of the University's long athletics history and as a leader for women's intercollegiate competition.
In 2017, intercollegiate athletics was reinstated on campus. MUW played as an independent and was a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA), while it went through the NCAA Division III membership process.
In July of 2023, the NCAA III membership committee informed MUW that it had completed its requirements and would be full NCAA Division III members beginning September 1, 2023. Concurrently, the Owls’ programs also became members of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC), which hinged on gaining full DIII membership status.
