RAYMOND — Former Trinity Episcopal golfer Jackson Bryant wasn’t pleased with the way he competed in the NJCAA Region 23 Golf Tournament last weekend, but it was good enough to get him a top 15 finish and plenty of experience for next year.

Bryant, who competed individually for East Mississippi Community College, shot a 3-over-par 75 in Monday’s second round to tie Northeast Mississippi’s Daniel Singh for 13th place with a two-day score of 155 in the event at Eagle Ridge Golf Club in Raymond.

Bryant had shot 80 on the first day of the tournament to be in a tie for 22nd place before making a charge on Monday.

“I hit the ball terrible both days,” Bryant said. “The first day I shot 80, which was pretty sad. When I hit a bad shot, I didn’t get up and down when I needed to, and I missed a lot of par putts. The second day I hit the ball a tad bit better, and chipped a little better too.”

Bryant, a freshman at EMCC, finished nine shots back of winner Skyler Dennis of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, who shot a 146 and claimed the victory over teammate Richie Williams with a par on the first hole of a sudden death playoff.

It’s a situation Bryant would love to find himself next year, and thinks his experience in the tournament will help him achieve that.

“The thing that helps me will being able to know what it’s like, being under pressure, especially on the second day,” Bryant said. “Now I know what to expect next year. This year I really didn’t know what to expect.”

And in order to get back to the Region 23 Tournament and win it next year, Bryant said he needs to make improvements on his short game.

“One thing that I need to improve is my game from 100 yards in (to the hole),” Bryant said. “That’s more of a touch shot than anything else. That really hurt me this week.”