Even a tornado couldn’t keep the West Jones golf team from claiming the Class 4A state title Thursday.

On their way to breakfast prior to the second round of the state tournament, Coach Tony Johnson noticed a funnel cloud near the hotel the team was staying in. He quickly got the squad into a nearby Walgreens where they waited in a cooler for 30 minutes as the storm passed. Damage was later reported in nearby Tupelo.

“It was crazy,” said Johnson. “The funnel cloud came across the hotel where we were staying.”

After getting to the Natchez Trace Golf Club, the first round leading Mustangs had to wait around until about 1 p.m. before officials decided to start play.

“The guys running the tournament did a great job under the circumstances,” said Johnson. “They had to make a call by 1:30.”

Once play began, Johnson said his guys actually played better Thursday as a team than they did the day before when they took a 12 stroke lead.

Miss. Gulf Coast C.C. signee Nic Ishee, who shot 75 on the opening day, was off as he carded an 83 in the final round. Junior J.T. Soley, the No. 3 player for the Mustangs, stepped up and fired a 74 to lead the way and finished second overall with a two-day total of 150. Brandon Herring, who is also going to MGGCC in the fall, shot 78, while Casey Hodge and Ryan Blackwell both finished with 79s.

As a team, the Mustangs shot a 310 for a two-day total of 616, 15 strokes better than runner-up New Albany (328-313—641).

“I’m so happy for them,” said Johnson, who guided the Mustangs to a runner-up finish a year ago and third place finish in 2006. “These kids have been so close. They really deserve it.”

West Jones last claimed a state golf title in 2001.

Johnson credited his assistant coach Joey Landrum and also thanked the members of Laurel Country Club, Dixie, Pine Belt, and Bear Creek golf courses for allowing them to use their courses.