Four SMCC Men’s Golfers Receive NJCAA Ping Division II All-America Honors

Gabriel Salvanera, Johnathan Walters, Ryan Macpherson and Matthew Halvorson added to their hardware collection when they received NJCAA Ping Division II All-America honors, the Golf Coaches Association of America announced on April 20. Salvanera and Walters earned First Team honors, Macpherson received Second Team honors and Halvorson was named Honorable Mention. Earlier this month, all four earned NJCAA All-West Region honors.

Ranked No. 1 in NJCAA Division II, SMCC had its sights set on a second-straight national championship before the COVID-19 virus forced the cancelation of the season. In the spring of 2020, the Cougars won tournaments hosted by Scottsdale Community College, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Mesa Community College and Eastern Arizona.

Walters won three times over the season, first winning the Firestorm Invitational at Moon Valley Country Club with a nine-under 207 over three rounds. Tied with Ottawa University's Noah Hoffman after 54 holes, Walters claimed individual medalist honors by winning the playoff hole.

He added to his tournament wins by capturing the ACCAC Fall Preview with a three-under 137 over 36 holes at the Gold Canyon Golf Resort.

In the spring, Walters fired a 10-under 132 to earn the individual medalist at the Chandler-Gilbert Men's Tournament. He stood in a tie for third after scoring a three-under 68 on the first day of the event. He will head to UNLV in the fall of 2020 to begin his NCAA Division I career.

Salvanera started the season with a bang, winning the Park University Desert Classic on Sept. 11 and 12, 2019, at Bear Creek Golf Course. He fired a four-under 67 on the first day and followed that up with a one-under 70 on the second day to claim individual medalist.

At the Ottawa University tournament, Salvanera trailed by one after a first-day, four-under 68 at the Eagles Nest Golf Course in Goodyear, Ariz. On the second day, he fired a seven-under 65 and followed that up with a six-under 66 to finish 17-under for the tournament and capture individual medalist honors. Salvanera will head to Arizona State University in the fall to continue his intercollegiate career.

Macpherson entered the second day of the Mesa CC Men's Invitational tied for fourth after totaling a two-under 72. He proceeded to birdie the first hole and three more on the front nine. On the back nine, Macpherson eagled the par-5 13th hole and birdied 14 and 16 to put him at 10-under par. He overcame a bogey on 17 to par the 18th and claimed the individual medalist honors.

Additionally, Macpherson tied for eighth at the season-ending Eastern Arizona tournament. At the Chandler-Gilbert Tournament, he moved up nine spots on the second day, shooting a seven-under 64 to finish sixth at six-under 136.  He will return to South Mountain Community College next season.

Halvorson recorded a pair of top-10 finishes during the spring. He tied for third at the Chandler-Gilbert CC Tournament, moving up four places to tie for third after posting a six-under 65 over the final 18 holes. He had been tied for seventh at one-under 70 to begin the second day.

At the Mesa CC Tournament, Halvorson tied for 10th. He fired a one-under 143 for the tournament. He was at even-par after the first day and shot a one-under 71 in the second round to tie for 10th. Halvorson will head to the University of Nebraska-Omaha in the fall of 2020 to begin his NCAA Division I career.