2014 SCAC Men's Golf Championship - Preview

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The 2014 SCAC Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships tees off Monday, April 21 and will run through Tuesday, April 22. Official Website

The men’s teams will play 36 holes on Monday and 18 on Tuesday while the women’s teams will play 18 holes each day. All teams will play an 18-hole practice round on Sunday. Trinity University is the defending SCAC Men’s Golf Champion.

Half of the SCAC’s six men’s teams are ranked in the latest Golf World/Nike Golf Men's Division III Coaches' Top 25 poll. Southwestern University is 15th, Schreiner University is 17th and Trinity University is 22nd.

Southwestern University, which jumped seven places to 15th in the latest Golf World/Nike Golf Men's Coaches Poll, is also seeking a repeat trip to the NCAA Men’s Division III Golf Championship as the Pirates, an at-large invitee last season, finished in 14th place – a slot ahead of Schreiner – a year ago. Junior Jordan Cowart, a First-Team All-SCAC selection last season, is leading the Pirates with a 74.50 scoring average (tops in the SCAC and tied for 57th in the nation) in seven tournaments, followed by sophomore Cody Hebert, who earned Second Team All-SCAC honors a year ago and is averaging 75.88 shots per round. Senior Cameron Button, a Third-Team All-America and First Team All-SCAC selection in 2013, is averaging 76.38 strokes per round.

17th-ranked Schreiner University, who finished 15th at last year’s national tournament after winning the 2013 American Southwest Conference title, has its eyes on a return trip to the NCAA Men’s Division III Golf Championship. Three different individuals have won tournaments this year for the Mountaineers, including freshman Matt McClung, junior Cheyne Kendall and junior Jimmy Keener. McClung is averaging a team-best 74.87 strokes per round this season (94th in the nation) followed closely by Kendall (75.20) and junior Zach Oliver (75.76).

The 22nd-ranked Trinity University Tigers, the defending SCAC champions, are led by the 2013 SCAC Player-of-the-Year and First Team All-SCAC performer, junior Kalen Vos, who is averaging a team-best 76.38 strokes per round. Freshman Trevor Warner is close behind with a 76.47 stroke average. Senior Tyler Lehmann, a First Team All-SCAC selection last season, is averaging 76.88 strokes per round.

Centenary College has three players averaging sub 76 strokes per round this season, led by sophomore Jesper Thorsoe, who is averaging a team-best 74.78 shots per rounds (tied for 87th in the nation). Junior Jamie Gibson, who was Second Team All-SCAC in 2013, is averaging 75.7 strokes per round and earned an individual victory at the Christian Brothers University Spring Invitational. First-year golfer Larry Balthazar averages 75.9 strokes per round for the Gents.

Texas Lutheran University is paced by junior Adam Peterson, who is averaging 76.00 strokes per round for the Bulldogs. He tied for medalist honors at the Louisiana College Invitational this past fall. Senior Chance Cathey is just behind at 76.53 strokes per round and has an individual win of his own at the Trinity University Alamo City Classic.

Junior Stephan Jasper leads the University of Dallas men’s squad with an 83.00 scoring average in five tournaments.

For complete coverage of the 2014 SCAC Men's and Women's Golf Championships, including links to live hole-by-hole results and live video on the 9th and 18th holes, click here:

http://scacsports.com/tournament/spring/golf/index