Ole Miss golf commit wins third straight Mississippi Junior Amateur

Charlie Miller didn’t let the moment sink in until he stood over a two-foot putt for par on the final hole of the last round.

That stroke was the 71st of the day and put him 7-under for the 54-hole event to clinch his third consecutive Mississippi Junior Amateur championship. The Jackson Prep 2017 Ole Miss commit is the first person to ever win the State Junior Am on three straight occasions.

Miller’s three victories came at Northwood Country Club in Meridian, Annandale in Madison and Deerfield in Canton, respectively.

“It’s pretty cool to be the first person to win it three times, and I feel like I’m finally playing well after some changes during the summer,” Miller said. “I knew I had a three-shot lead going into the day, but you’re trying to block that out and just play. I noticed being two up on 16 and then over the putt on 18 I knew it was over.”

Miller, who committed to Ole Miss over Florida State and Arizona, also visited FSU, Mississippi State, SMU, Georgia Tech and Auburn.

The scoreboard was a tangible positive for the future of Ole Miss golf as fellow Rebel 2017 commits Cecil Wegener and Matt Liddon finished tied for second at 3-under. Wegener recently advanced to the match play portion of the U.S. Junior Amateur and won the individual MAIS AAAA state title with a 6-under 66 at Deerfield.

Liddon, a Manchester Academy (Yazoo City) product, tied Miller for the low round of the junior amateur with a 68 on the final day.

“That was the best part with the three Ole Miss guys first and tied for second,” Miller said. “We know we are a really good class and can make an impact. That tournament was a great sign of what we are capable of.”

The Rebels have gotten their share of an excellent crop of junior talent in Mississippi and especially the Jackson area. There are six SEC commitments at Country Club of Jackson.

Wegener and Miller are headed to Ole Miss. Wilson Furr and Simms Abney are committed to Alabama, and Griffin Agent signed with Mississippi State. Benjamin Nelson, a Mississippi State commit, is also a CCJ member but is listed from Annandale with the Mississippi Golf Association.

“We play together most days,” Miller said. “We motivate each other and it motivates us to make sure we are getting better to be able to compete. It’s constant how we push each other.”

Miller still has a year before he enrolls at Ole Miss, and he remains excited about his decision.

“Every since I took my first visit I thought (head coach Chris Malloy and assistant Kyle Ellis) were awesome people,” Miller said. “I’m glad I’ll be playing under them.”

Driver: Titleist 915

3-wood: Titleist 915

Hybrid: Titleist 816

Irons: Titleist 816 (4-PW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM6 (52, 56 and 60 degrees)

Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron Futura