Record Performance Lands Golf Title for Mississippi State's Ben Wood

Firing back-to-back top-five rounds in Mississippi State golf history proved to be enough to lead Ben Wood to victory in the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate Championship Tuesday at the par-70, Old Overton Club in Vestavia Hills, Ala.

Wood, who shot an opening round a one-over 71, finished the tournament at 12-under, 198, giving him a four-shot victory over Georgia Tech's Ollie Schniederjans of Georgia Tech.  The Yellow Jacket is Golfweek's No. 2 ranked player in the country. Wood currently holds the No. 83 ranking in the country.

After his opening round, Wood fired a 63 on Monday, which tied the second-lowest round shot by a Bulldog in competition, Wood finished play with a 64 on Sunday, which tied for the fourth-lowest round in school history. The 198 total tied Alex Rocha's performance in the 2000 Gator Invitational for the lowest score in MSU history.

"Ben continues to play as well as anyone in the country, and what he did this week was amazing," said MSU coach Clay Homan.

Tim Walker turned in a top-25 performance for the Bulldogs with a six-over, 216.

The Bulldogs return to the course on Oct. 26 to play in The Grove Intercollegiate at the Grove Country Club in College Grove, Tenn.