WHITNEY, Texas -- Schreiner University led wire-to-wire, pulling away over the course of the final round to earn the 2024 Men’s Golf Championship title Tuesday afternoon at the par-72, 6,918-yard New Course at White Bluff Golf Resort in Whitney, Texas. Official Championship Website | Men's Results - Team | Men's Results - Individual | Photo Gallery | Interview w/Schreiner's head coach Alan Baxter | Interview w/ Schreiner's Jake Sitterle | Interview w/Centenary's Andrew Bennett
The title was the first for the 16th-ranked Schreiner's men's program since taking back-to-back championships in 2014 and 2015.
Consistency was key for the Mountaineers in this year's run to the program's third title this decade as three of the team's golfers finished in the top eight and all five squad members finished in the top 15.
Behind all-conference performances from graduate student Drew Hermesmeyer (73-73-79--225) and sophomore Matthew McKenzie (73-76-76--225), who both finished tied for fourth to earn First Team All-SCAC accolades, Schreiner led the field in birdies (34) and pars (154) as well as par three (3.38), par four (4.34) and par five (4.90) scoring over the course of three day event. Additionally, senior Jake Sitterle (75-80-74--229) finished in eighth alone for Second Team All-SCAC honors, marking the third time the senior has earned all-conference accolades for his efforts at the championships.
Rounding out the Mountaineers contingent was sophomore Colin Perez, who finished tied for 13th with a three day total of 234 (73-79-82) and senior John Martinez who tied for 15th with a final score of 235 (79-77-79).
Trinity University, led by two-time all-SCAC honoree junior Jacob Mason, finished in second place in the team standings with a three-day total of 925. Mason, who had the low round of the tournament on Monday with his 67, finished with a three-day total of 221. The Tigers pulled within eight shots of the Mountaineers after Monday's second round, but couldn't keep pace on Tuesday.
In the race for individual medalist honors, Centenary College senior Andrew Bennett ran away from the field, firing a final round 70 to finish at 212, nine shots clear of Mason. After finishing tied for sixth a year ago, Bennett left little doubt to who would walk away with top honors this year. He finished the tournament tops among the field in pars (36) and tied for the lead in birdies (11) and was the only player who played the par fours at under par (-2). He posted under par scores (71, 71 and 70) in each of his three rounds, becoming just the third player in conference championship history to do so, and his three-day total of 212 is tied for the third-lowest finishing score in conference history.
Bennett's teammate, first-year Chance Snell, rounded out the all-SCAC First Team, posting scores of 75, 69 and 80 to finish at 224, good for third place alone.
Rounding out the final team standings, defending champion University of St. Thomas placed third with a three-round total of 926 (+62), Teammates sophomore Zach Allen and senior Cameron Curtis both finished at 230 to tie for ninth place and earn all-SCAC Second Team honors. On the strength of all-SCAC performances from Bennett and Snell, Centenary earned fourth place with a final team score of 940 (+76). The finish represented the highest finish for the program's since the 2014 championships.
Led by junior Tobey Wills' seventh-place finish (228), Texas Lutheran University finished fifth with a 943 (+79). It was the third straight year Wills has earned all-SCAC honors. University of Dallas, paced by junior Rex Soulliere's all-conference performance and sixth place individual finish (227), placed sixth with a team total of 944 (+80). One shot back of Dallas was the host school, Southwestern University, which rounded out the team standings at 945 (+81).
The SCAC will send its conference champion to the NCAA tournament via an automatic berth, with Schreiner earning that distinction and trip to Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nevada for this year's championship, May 14-17. Other conference teams and individuals will await word of at-large selections when the NCAA makes that announcement on Monday, May 6.
2024 All-SCAC Men's Golf First Team
1. Andrew Bennett, Centenary - 71-71-70--212
2. Jacob Mason, Trinity - 74-67-80--220
3. Chance Snell, Centenary - 75-69-80--224
T4. Drew Hermesmeyer, Schreiner - 73-73-79--225
T4. Matthew McKenzie, Schreiner - 73-76-76--225
2024 All-SCAC Men's Golf Second Team
6. Rex Soulliere, Dallas - 72-76-79--227
7. Tobey Wills, Texas Lutheran - 74-78-76--228
8. Jake Sitterle, Schreiner - 75-80-74--229
T9. Zach Allen, St. Thomas - 74-76-80--230
T9. Cameron Curtis, St. Thomas - 74-82-74--230
2024 SCAC Men's Golf Tournament Medalist
Andrew Bennett, Centenary College
For a complete wrap-up of today's final round, including a Day Three photo gallery, click here for the official website of the 2024 SCAC Men's Golf Championship.
