Senate Concurrent Resolution 507

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING OLE MISS SOPHOMORE STANDOUT BRADEN THORNBERRY FOR WINNING THE UNIVERSITY'S FIRST-EVER 2017 MEN'S NCAA INDIVIDUAL GOLF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, on May 29, 2017, Ole Miss Sophomore standout Braden Thornberry, an Olive Branch native, shot 71 (1-under) in the final round to erase a two-stroke deficit and win the 2017 Men's NCAA Individual Golf National Championship at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois; and

WHEREAS, it is the first-ever individual or team Golf National Championship for the Rebels. Thornberry shot 277 (66-71-69-71), which was 11-under and four strokes ahead; and

WHEREAS, "His life will change after this. This is going to be a time of his life that he certainly will enjoy. To win a National Title as an individual is huge," said the Golf Channel's Billy Ray Brown, who won the 1982 Individual Championship while at Houston. "He will be on notice and he will be on stage each and every week as he goes on in his amateur career"; and

WHEREAS, Thornberry had won four tournaments prior to his National Title win. But he entered the day two strokes behind. Ole Miss, coached by Chris Malloy, finished tied for 22nd in a 30-team field and missed the cut by 17 strokes; and

WHEREAS, "It means a lot to be the Champion," Thornberry said. "As far as the team, we knew we were going to have a special year when we started off and we weren't surprised at all"; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this special achievement by a university athlete who has brought honor to his university, his community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Ole Miss Sophomore standout Braden Thornberry for winning the University's first-ever 2017 Men's NCAA Individual Golf National Championship, and extend to Braden and his family our best wishes for future success at this level and in his professional career.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Braden Thornberry and Coach Chris Malloy, forwarded to Chancellor Jeffrey S. Vitter and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.