Senate Resolution 2

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING OLE MISS GOLF TEAM STANDOUT BRADEN THORNBERRY FOR WINNING THE UNIVERSITY'S FIRST-EVER 2017 MEN'S NCAA INDIVIDUAL GOLF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND FOR REPRESENTING THE UNITED STATES LEADING THE USA TO VICTORY IN THE 2017 WALKER CUP MATCHES.

WHEREAS, Braden Thornberry, a 20-year-old Ole Miss Rebel golfer from Olive Branch, was chosen to represent the United States in the Walker Cup Matches, which was played at the Los Angeles Country Club on September 9-10, 2017. The biennial competition featured the best amateur golfers in the United States against a team from Britain and Ireland. Braden dominated at the Walker Cup, helping Team USA to a 19-7 win over Team Great Britain and Ireland, winning both his single matches; and

WHEREAS, Braden beat Harry Ellis, the 2017 British Amateur Champion, despite trailing by two strokes with five holes to play. Thornberry won four out of five and halved the other to win 2-up. Thornberry made quick work of Paul McBride of Ireland the next day, beating him 6-5 in 13 holes. "It was awesome," he said. "I think it was a great venue for something like the Walker Cup. The course had a good mixture of long and short holes that made it a great design"; and

WHEREAS, this is yet another achievement for Thornberry in what is surely the most remarkable year of amateur golf ever produced by a Mississippian. Thornberry won five collegiate tournaments, including the NCAA Championship. He won the Haskins Trophy, golf's equivalent to the Heisman Trophy, as just a sophomore. He won the prestigious Sunnehanna Amateur Tournament of Champions in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, against an international field; and

WHEREAS, Thornberry is ranked No. 3 in Men's World Amateur Golf rankings and defeated the No. 1 ranked player Joaquinn Niemann of Chile in the United States Amateur. Perhaps most famously, Thornberry finished tied for fourth, two shots out of the lead, in the PGA Tour's FedEx St. Jude Classic, and turned down more than $240,000.00 to retain his amateur status; and

WHEREAS, obviously, Thornberry could turn pro and make a fortune playing golf at the level he has played over the past 12 months. Instead, he will remain and play his junior year at Ole Miss where he still believes he can better prepare himself for the rigors of the PGA Tour; and

WHEREAS, on May 29, 2017, Ole Miss Sophomore Standout Braden Thornberry 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. To win a National Title as an individual is huge," said Golf Channel's Billy Ray Brown, who won the 1982 Individual Championship while at Houston. "He will be on stage each and every week as he continues on in his amateur career"; and

WHEREAS, Thornberry had won four tournaments prior to his National Title win. 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." Thornberry played spectacular golf headed into the 2017 college season; 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, 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 for representing the United States leading the USA to victory in the 2017 Walker Cup Matches, 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.