2022-23 Men's Golf News
SMCC Men's Golf Named GCAA Academic National Champions, 3 Earn GCAA All-America Scholar Honors
August 09, 2023
Sophomores Zachary Erskine, Ethan Klose and Damon Vilkauskas of the South Mountain Community College men's golf team earned 2022-23 Golf Coaches Association of America All-America Scholar honors after outstanding work in the classroom and on the course. To qualify, the three had to receive their Associate's Degree, were in their last year of athletic eligibility in the NJCAA, participate in 50% of their team's competitive rounds, have a stroke average under 77.0, and maintain a minimum cumulative career grade-point average of 3.2.
SMCC Men's Golf Announces Four-Year Transfers
July 24, 2023
Sophomores Ethan Klose (New Mexico State), Zachary Erskine (Utah Valley University) and Damon Vilkauskas (University of Wyoming) of the SMCC men's golf team will continue their intercollegiate golf careers at NCAA Division I programs for the upcoming 2023-24 season. All three were NJCAA All-Americans during their Cougar careers, with Erskine and Klose helping SMCC win the 2022 NJCAA Division II National Championship and Vilkauskas finishing as the individual runner-up at the 2023 NJCAA Division II National Championships.
SMCC Men's & Women's Golf Fundraiser
June 27, 2023
The SMCC men's and women's golf program will host a Tournament Fundraiser on Friday, Aug. 18 at The Legacy Golf Course at 6808 S. 32nd Street in Phoenix. The cost is $125 per person and $500 for a foursome. The registration cost includes 18 holes of golf, carts, range balls, and lunch. There will be a silent auction and a raffle at the luncheon.
SMCC Men's Golf Places Fourth at NJCAA Division II National Championships
May 30, 2023
The South Mountain Community College men's golf team finished fourth at the NJCAA Division II Golf Championships May 23-26 at Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, Ind. SMCC tied with Walters State CC (TN) at +28 but lost a playoff for the third overall team finish. Individually, sophomore Damon Vilkauskas placed second at -5, finishing one stroke behind Glendale CC's Warner Beach for individual medalist while earning NJCAA First Team All-American honors.
SMCC Men's Golf Set to Defend Division II National Championship
May 18, 2023
The South Mountain Community College men's golf team will travel to Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, Ind., to compete in the NJCAA Division II National Championships from May 23-26. The Cougars, who have won eight NJCAA Division II National Championships in program history, including the 2022 title, have won all seven of their spring tournaments, and sophomore Damon Vilkauskas has won four-straight events.
SMCC Men's Golf, Damon Vilkauskas Win NJCAA Region I Division II Titles
May 01, 2023
The South Mountain Community College men's golf team won the NJCAA Region I Division II Tournament from April 27-30 at Corte Bella Golf Course in Sun City West, Ariz. As a team, the Cougars finished at +1 (1,137) over the four days to defeat second-place Glendale CC by 25 strokes. Individually, sophomore Damon Vilkauskas won his fourth-straight Individual Medalist honors and finished at 10-under, 274 to defeat Glendale CC's Warner Beach by 10 strokes.
Damon Vilkauskas Captures Third-Straight Individual Medalist Honors at Estrella Mountain Invite
April 17, 2023
The South Mountain Community College men's golf team won the Estrella Mountain Invite at -15 (553) on April 15-16 at Tres Rios Golf Course in Goodyear, Ariz. Individually, sophomore Damon Vilkauskas won his third-straight individual medalist honor by capturing the tournament title at -9 (133), and fellow sophomore Zachary Erskine was second at -5 (137).
SMCC Men's Golf, Vilkauskas Capture Eastern Arizona Invite Titles
April 05, 2023
The South Mountain Community College men's golf team won the Eastern Arizona Invite at -9 (567) Mount Graham Golf Course on April 3-4 in Thatcher, Ariz. Individually, sophomore Damon Vilkauskas won his second-straight individual medalist honors by finishing first at -6 (138) to edge teammate sophomore Ethan Klose.
Damon Vilkauskas, SMCC Men's Golf Win Paradise Valley Invite
March 20, 2023
Sophomore Damon Vilkauskas won individual medalist honors with a final score of -7 (137) at the Paradise Valley Invite Mar. 13-14 at Cave Creek Golf Course in Phoenix. Vilkauskas posted rounds of 69 and 68 to post his first individual tournament win as a Cougar, while the SMCC men's golf team overcame a sluggish first day with a 20-stroke improvement in round two to win the event by 12 strokes over Mesa CC.
SMCC Men's Golf Wins Pima CC Invitational
March 01, 2023
The South Mountain CC men's golf team finished at -5 (571) to win the Pima CC invitational on Feb. 27-28 at Randolph North Golf Course in Tucson, Ariz. The Cougars carded a 288 in the opening round to trail by one stroke after 18 holes. However, SMCC responded with a tournament-best 283 in the second round to win the event by seven strokes over Glendale CC. Individually, freshman Ryan Blair tied for second, and sophomore Damon Vilkauskas took fourth to pace the Cougars.
Ethan Klose, SMCC Men's Golf Win Mesa Thunderbird Invitational
February 16, 2023
Sophomore Ethan Klose won the Mesa Thunderbird Invitational by four strokes at five-under, 139 to help lead the South Mountain Community College men's golf to the team title at the event. The Cougars finished at five-under, 571 for the tournament to win by 12 strokes over Pima CC, and sophomore Zachary Erskine, freshman Brady Clark and sophomore Damon Vilkauskas all recorded top-10 finishes.
SMCC Wins CGCC Coyote Classic, Erskine Ties for First
February 01, 2023
The South Mountain Community College men's golf team won the CGCC Coyote Classic on Jan. 30-31 at Las Colinas Golf Course in Queen Creek, Ariz. The Cougars posted a team score of 23-under, 545, to defeat Glendale CC and Pima CC by 10 strokes. Individually, sophomore Zachary Erskine tied for first place at the event at eight-under, 134, with Glendale CC's Warner Beach as both players carded scores of six-under, 65 in the second round.
SMCC's Ethan Klose Competes in Inaugural Edition of The Thunderbolt
January 04, 2023
South Mountain Community College men's golf sophomore Ethan Klose participated in the inaugural edition of The Thunderbolt, a golf tournament held at Sterling Grove Country Club Dec. 29-31. Part of the Patriot All-America Tournament at Wigwam Golf Club, Klose tied for 39th at +3 (219) after three rounds of competition with scores of 77, 72 and 70 on the par-72 course.
Ethan Klose, SMCC Men's Golf Win ACCAC Fall Preview
November 16, 2022
Sophomore Ethan Klose carded a seven-under 137 to win the ACCAC Fall Preview by one stroke at Dobson Ranch Golf Course on Nov. 14-15. Klose opened with a five-under 67 and then posted a two-under 70 in his second round to fend off Glendale CC's Ryan Heinz and teammate Zachary Erskine. As a team, SMCC won the seven-team tournament by 14 strokes and finished at 20-under, 556 for the 36 holes.
Cougar Men's Golf Takes Third at Herb Wimberly Junior College Invitational
October 19, 2022
The South Mountain Community College men's golf team placed third at the Herb Wimberly Junior College Invitational on Oct. 17-18 at the University Golf Course in Las Cruces, N.M. The Cougars finished at +27 (879), and freshman Ryan Blair led SMCC individually by tying for fifth at +4 (217) over the three rounds.
Second-Round 67 Sends Thompson to South Mountain Classic Title
September 21, 2022
Sophomore Daniel Thompson carded a tournament-best five-under 67 in the second round of the South Mountain Classic to win Individual Medalist honors by one stroke. As a team, SMCC finished second at the event, held at the Aguila Golf Desert Course on Sept. 19-20 in Laveen, Ariz, with a team score of five-under 571.