All-Conference and All-Region Honors Pour in for SMCC Men's Golf
PHOENIX ---
The South Mountain Community College men's golf team collected multiple All-ACCAC and NJCAA All-Region I Division II honors as its heads to the NJCAA National Championships May 18-21 at Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, Ind. Sophomores Nick Hedman and Ryan Macpherson and freshmen Cecil Belisle and Damon Vilkauskas earned NJCAA All-Region I Division II honors. Belisle, Valkauskas and Hedman also received First Team All-ACCAC awards, and Macpherson earned a spot on the Second Team All-ACCAC.
Belisle won the NJCAA Region I Division II Championship with a four-under, 276 over the four rounds of competition, including a five-under performance over rounds two and three. A freshman from Red Wing, Minn., Belisle was the only competitor to finish under par at the event at Gold Canyon Golf Course in Gold Canyon, Ariz.
He also won the Scottsdale CC Invitational Mar. 1-2 at Hillcrest Golf Club. Belisle opened the tournament with a four-under, 68 to take a one-stroke lead over two teammates. In the second round, he posted an even-par 72 and took individual medalist honors by two strokes.
Hedman won twice during the spring, claiming individual medalist honors at the Pima CC Invitational and at the Paradise Valley Invitational. At the Pima CC Invitational Mar. 29-30 at Randolph Golf Course in Tucson, Hedman fired a four-under, 140 over the two rounds. He led all golfers with a one-under, 71 on the second day and opened the event with a three-under 69 to sit one stroke off the leaders.
At the Paradise Valley Invitational April 19-20 at Gainey Ranch Golf Course in Scottsdale, Ariz., Hedman carded a three-under, 141, to win the event. After firing a one-under 71 in the first round, Hedman carded a three-under 69 to win his second tournament of the 2021 spring. He recorded six birdies in his second round, and he edged Glendale CC's Justin Simpson by one stroke.
Although he didn't win an event as an individual, Vilkauskas had an outstanding season with the Cougars, and his consistent play earned him an All-Region and First Team All-ACCAC award. He finished under par at four tournaments and had five top-10 finishes.
He tied for fifth at the Scottsdale CC Invitational at one-under, 143, tied for third at the season-opening Mesa CC Invitational with a three-under, 141, and tied for second at the Pima CC invitational at one-under, 143. He added a fourth-place tie at the SMCC Invitational at two-under, 140, and then tied for sixth at the Region I Championships at nine-over, 289.
Macpherson was the third Cougar to win twice in the spring. He won the season-opening Mesa CC Invitational, firing a nine-under 135 over the two days. Then, he carded a four-under 68 and a five-under 67 at the Feb. 15-16 event at Dobson Golf Course in Mesa, Ariz.
He then posted an 11-under, 131 over the two rounds at the South Mountain Classic April 12-13 at The Legacy Golf Resort in Phoenix. Macpherson opened the tournament with a seven-under, 64 and then carded a four-under 67 to finish at 11-under, 131 for the event.
SMCC, the Region I Champions, now turns its attention to the 2021 NJCAA Division II National Championships in Indiana. SMCC won the event in 2019 but could not defend its title in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, the 2020 squad was named Academic National Champions by the Golf Coaches Association of America.