Ole Miss men’s golf coach Chris Malloy transformed a simple pregame tradition into an unforgettable moment when he donned an Evel Knievel costume to "Lock the Vaught" during the Oklahoma football game.
The idea came during a casual evening on his back porch with friends, as he worried about what to wear for the traditional ceremony. When one friend offered up the iconic white leather outfit, complete with a cape and helmet, Malloy couldn’t resist the opportunity to make it memorable.
Before committing to the stunt, he sent a quick message to athletic director Keith Carter, who made it clear that backing out wasn’t an option. The next morning, the costume appeared mysteriously on his front door, with a simple message that read: "Ball’s in your court."
Name
Events
Top 10
Money
Anders Albertson
40
1
$556,905
We all love it when coaches show their fun side and break away from their serious image.
The costume choice might seem random, but it reflects the bold attitude of Ole Miss golf program, which has recently claimed the No. 1 national ranking for the first time ever. Their fall season has been remarkable, with two victories and two second-place finishes.
Rising to the Top
Michael La Sasso’s dominant 11-shot victory at the Hamptons Intercollegiate highlights the team’s success. Unlike previous seasons, the pressure isn’t solely on his shoulders. Four other players have secured multiple top-10 finishes, including Cohen Trolio, who found his groove after transferring from LSU.
The path hasn’t been easy. Last spring, a stomach virus hit several players during the SEC Championship, and they missed nationals by just one shot. La Sasso struggled through tournaments, including disappointing showings at the Western and U.S. amateurs.
Learning from Setbacks
Malloy acknowledges last year’s team sometimes looked overwhelmed. Instead of avoiding those memories, he encouraged his players to embrace discomfort. "I want us to be comfortable being uncomfortable," he said.
The team’s work ethic remains strong despite their top ranking. They’ve resisted suggestions to rest, continuing to practice intensely. As Malloy notes, "They know that they still have something to prove."
"We’ve talked about for years with this program – and I think we’re there – we want to get to an event and know we’re the dudes. I remember coming up in college golf, you’d go to tournaments and Stanford or Oklahoma State would put their bags down, and everyone else would take notice… Hopefully, this ranking helps them understand that we are the guy, that if we take care of our business, we’re going to be hard to beat, and we don’t have to play well and hope that this team or that team doesn’t play well. And that’s a big thing."
