WEST POINT — Ross Bell needs to show consistency.
The Mississippi State men’s golfer had a couple of good rounds in the last few tournaments, but he also had one round that took him out of contention.
Still, Bell is playing his best golf. He continued that trend Monday with a 1-under-par 71 and a 1-over 73 that left him tied for ninth after the first and second rounds of the Old Waverly Collegiate Championship at Old Waverly Golf Club.
“I think for him just maybe putting together a complete tournament is something he’s probably going to try to do,” MSU coach Clay Homan said. “He’s had good rounds in the last two or three tournaments, but he’s had one bad round. I think being able to put together a complete tournament will be big for him.”
Senior Ben Wood shot two even-par rounds of 72 to join Bell in ninth. Sophomore Johnny Newnham, who is playing as an individual, is tied for 14th at 1-over.
As a team, MSU is tied for seventh with a 18-over (594). The final round begins at 8:30 a.m. today.
In the last three tournaments, Bell has carded two 81s and a 79 to nullify two other great rounds and derail his momentum.
The redshirt freshman has been steady at MSU’s home course. He made two birdies and one bogey in the first round and made three birdies, two bogeys, and a double bogey in the second round. Bell’s performance has been textbook in Homan’s eyes because of the way the course is set up. Old Waverly is playing 7,088 yards, but the pins haven’t been easy to attack.
“He made a lot of pars, didn’t make a lot of birdies, but with the pins being tough, he played how you’re supposed to play,” said Homan, who doesn’t feel being in contention will faze Bell. “I’m most proud of how he’s going about his business. For a freshman who’s playing really for his first year, I couldn’t be more happy with what he’s doing.”
In the second round, Bell went to the 18th tee box, his 15th hole of the round, at 1-under, but he hit a snap hook off the tee and the ball found the water. He recorded a double bogey and then bogeyed the first hole to drop to 2-over.
“I’m absolutely exhausted. I’ve got two holes left and I’m really wanting to push and get some birdies coming in,” Bell said. “I hit the green in two on hole two and made birdie. I missed about a 15-footer for birdie on three, so it was nice to have some good shots coming in down the stretch.”
Bell birdied the 513-yard par-5 second and parred the 170-yard par-3 third to finish strong.
Homan was impressed with how the Madison native composed himself after two bad holes.
“He’s a mature kid, so I don’t really expect anything less,” Homan said. “His golfing maturity is starting to catch up with his every day maturity.”
South Alabama’s Peter Staalbo is the leader at 5-under after a 3-under 69 and a 2-under 70. Ole Miss’ Braden Thornberry is tied for second with McNeese State’s Martin Eriksson at 4-under.
McNeese State leads the team competition at 4-under, while Ole Miss is second at 3-under.
Even though MSU is tied for seventh, Bell likes playing at the team’s home course.
“It helped so much,” Bell said. “Shots were normal. Normally guys that come here that haven’t played are uncomfortable, which makes a huge difference. I’m comfortable because I’ve hit those shots hundreds of times.”
Bell’s best finish is a tie for 12th at the Shoal Creek Invitational at Shoal Creek Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama, last September. He recorded an even-par 71 in the final round.
The Germantown High School product said he still needs to be better around and on the greens, but he likes how he is hitting the ball off the tee and in the fairway. After feeling good Monday, Bell is ready to put together a complete tournament and show that consistency.
“Hopefully (today) I’ll just give myself a few more closer birdie looks, just make a few more birdies because that’s what it’s going to take to be in contention,” Bell said. “You’re not going to win by making pars out here.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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