Cecil Belisle Wins 2022 NJCAA Jack Nicklaus Award

PHOENIX ---

Sophomore Cecil Belisle of the South Mountain Community College men's golf team won the 2022 NJCAA Jack Nicklaus Award and received the trophy from the award's namesake at The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Course in Dublin, Ohio, on June 5. The 2021 and 2022 NJCAA Division II individual National Champion, Belisle helped lead SMCC to a team National Championship in 2022, the eighth in program history. 

"The SMCC memories that I hold dearest are winning the Jack Nicklaus Award, claiming the back-to-back championships and witnessing Coach Chelsea's journey to become the first woman to lead a men's National Championship team and the player-coach relationship we built," said Belisle. "I am also proud to leave the school and program nicer than I had found it, and the opportunity to make the hardest, but best, decision of my life in moving to Arizona."

Belisle posted rounds of 71, 71, 72 and 74 on the par-72 course to win the NJCAA Division II National Championship for the second-straight year. He had three birdies in three rounds (first, second, fourth) and had a pair of birdies over his second 18 holes. He carded a four on the par-five seventh hole three times, and he posted a birdie on eight of the course's 18 holes over the four days. 

He was -6 on the course's par-fives and +3 on the par-three and par-fours. Belisle tied for the tournament lead with 50 pars over the 72 holes. Belisle received the 2022 NJCAA Division II Arnold Palmer National Individual Champion Award for his performance, which the Golf Coaches Association of America awards.

"One of my favorite memories will be Coach Carroll taking home the 2022 National Championship when many people said she couldn't do it," Belisle added. "She came in with late notice, and many of the players didn't respect her or her rules. Still, Coach Carroll had faith in herself and brought the team together anyways. She said I am going to win, and she did it too. That's greatness, and I am very proud to have been a part of her journey and success."

"I will remember her journey and working with her to help her get to her spot. Coach Carroll helped me along my journey throughout the year to get the back-to-back titles and all the other accomplishments I have been blessed with this year. Our player-coach relationship has grown, and I am grateful for our friendship. She is living proof that it doesn't matter what anybody thinks: you need to keep on swimming to your goal," he said.

Belisle won two other times during the 2022 spring to give him six career victories at SMCC. He won the Gaucho Spring Shootout and captured the Region I Division II title for the second-straight year. Both tournaments were at Corte Bella Golf Course in Sun City West, Ariz. 

He opened with a two-under 69 and then carded rounds of 68, 70 and 70 to win the Region I title for the second-straight year at -7 (277). Belisle carded a three-under, 68 in the opening round and then posted a two-over, 73 in the second round to win Gaucho Spring Shootout. 

Belisle earned PING and NJCAA Division II First Team All-American honors for his efforts. He will be continuing his intercollegiate career at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan. 

"It feels great and will always stick with me to leave the SMCC men's golf program nicer than I found it," he explained. "The first year, we fell short, and it stuck with me subconsciously. Getting that team title and leaving on that note will always stay with me.

 "I want to thank former SMCC men's golf head coach Aaron Puetz for allowing me to grow and evolve in my first year. He gave me a chance, and I am grateful," Belisle said. "I hope I helped both teams grow and evolve, and If Coach Puetz wouldn't have said yes, I may not be in the spot where I am headed now."

Belisle won three tournaments during the 2021 spring season, including the NJCAA Division II National Championships, and held a scoring average of 70.36 over 14 rounds of competition. 

"Winning back-to-back individual National Championships will always stay with me because Michael Jordan is my role model, and I have always wanted to do that. Although I cannot go for a 3-peat, I was able to follow his steps in going back-to-back," he concluded.