(Portions of this story courtesy of Southwestern University)
BLANCO, Texas -- In the closest finish since 2010, the Southwestern University men claimed the SCAC men's golf title by one stroke to earn the program its first conference championship since that same 2010 tournament. Official Championship Website | Results | Day Two Photo Gallery | Awards Photos | Day Two Video Highlights
As scorecards trickled in, teams huddled around the scoreboard watching the lead jump back and forth between Southwestern, Trinity University and two-time defending champion Schreiner University. When all was said and done, however, SU had captured the title by a single stroke over Trinity - 591 to 592. Schreiner was just one shot back at 593.
No men's golf championship in the 25-year history of the event has been tighter among the top three finishing teams.
Coming in fourth was Texas Lutheran University at 601, Centenary College was fifth at 653 and the University of Dallas finished sixth with a team total of 855.
Adding to the jubilation for the Pirates was sophomore Tyler Gammill becoming the program's first-ever men's golfer to earn medalist honors at the conference championship. Gammill was blistering throughout the event, shooting a two-under-par 70 for the first round and nearly matched the effort in the second round with a 71. His 141 combined score was two strokes ahead of his nearest competition and sets a new Southwestern record for 36 holes at a championship. It also tied for the second-lowest individual score in a 36-hole championship in league history.
Originally scheduled as a 54-hole championship, poor weather on Monday forced the men's championship to be played as a 36-hole event.
Gammill was named medalist, SCAC Men's Golfer-of-the-Year, and First Team All-SCAC.
First-year Devon Horne took five strokes off his opening round to finish tied for fourth with a 145 (75-70), earning First Team All-SCAC honors. Senior Cody Hebert was a Second Team All-SCAC selection after posting a 148 (76-72) to finish tied for seventh.
This is Southwestern's second men's golf championship, and first outright title. The Pirates won their first conference championship in 2010, sharing the honor with Centre College.
As the conference does not have an automatic berth, the Pirates and all other SCAC teams and individuals will have to wait to learn if they have been selected to compete in the NCAA Championship. Those selections will be announced on Monday, May 2.
The All-SCAC team was announced in the post-championship awards ceremony. Schreiner, Southwestern, Texas Lutheran and Trinity all had three selections to the team.
Texas Lutheran's Colin Uecker was named SCAC Freshman-of-the-Year.
2016 All-SCAC Men's Golf First Team
1. Tyler Gammill, Southwestern - 70-71--141
2. Travis Hindle, Trinity - 71-72--143
3. Phil Stewart, Schreiner - 75-69--144
T4. Devon Horne, Southwestern - 75-70--145
T4. Redmond Lyons, Trinity - 75-70--145
2016 All-SCAC Men's Golf Second Team
6. Rusty Story, Texas Lutheran - 76-71--147
T7. Jacob Gentry, Schreiner - 75-73--148
T7. Cody Hebert, Southwestern - 76-72--148
T9. Will Street, Trinity - 76-73--149
T9. Jake Bell, Schreiner - 78-71--149
2016 All-SCAC Men's Golf Honorable Mention
T11. Colin Uecker, Texas Lutheran - 76-75--151
T13. Kraig Zimmerhanzerl, Texas Lutheran - 77-75--152
2016 SCAC Men's Golf Player-of-the-Year
Tyler Gammill, Southwestern University
2016 SCAC Men's Golf Freshman-of-the-Year
Colin Uecker, Texas Lutheran University
For a complete wrap-up of today's final round, including interviews with the winners and a Day Two photo gallery, click here for the official website of the 2016 SCAC Men's Golf Championship.
