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SMCC Men's Golf Announces Four-Year Transfers
Posted: Jul 15, 2024

SMCC Men's Golf Announces Four-Year Transfers

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College men's golf team and head coach Marcus Smith announced the Cougars' four-year transfers after another successful 2024 season. Dillon Dean (UNLV), Luke Greig (Tennessee State), Ryan Blair (Niagara University), Cole Finch (Georgia State University), and Eric Klutke (Benedictine-Mesa) helped SMCC win numerous events while enjoying individual success on the links and head to the four-year level with ample experience. 

Dean played one season at SMCC and heads to Las Vegas to compete for the UNLV Rebels. 

Dean had an outstanding 2024 spring season and won the 2024 NJCAA Division II Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award presented by StrackaLine and the Golf Coaches Association of America. He won five times during the 2023-24 campaign and earned First Team All-American honors after he tied for fourth at 3-over 291 at the 2024 NJCAA Division II National Championships May 21-24 at Twin Hills Golf and Country Club in Joplin, Mo. 

He also won the March and April 2024 GCAA SwingU College Player of the Month honors. Dean claimed individual medalist honors at 3-under 141 and was the only competitor to finish under par at the Mountain Lion Spring Invitational, hosted by Estrella Mountain CC at Sundance Golf Course in Buckeye, Ariz., on Mar. 8-9. He was among four competitors to tie for first at 3-under 139 at the Gaucho Spring Shootout Invitational on Mar. 17-18 at Tres Rios Golf Course in Goodyear, Ariz. 

That momentum carried over into early April as well, when Dean won the Cougars Spring Invitational, which was held April 2-3 at Aguila Golf Course in Laveen, Ariz. Finally, Dean won individual medalist honors at 1-under 283 to defeat CGCC's Jaden McCloud by four strokes at the ACCAC Division II Region 1 Championships held at Ocotillo Golf Course in Chandler, Ariz., from April 22-25.

Greig played one season at SMCC and heads to Nashville, Tenn., to compete for the Tennessee State University Tigers in the Ohio Valley Conference. 

Greig captured the season-opening Mesa Thunderbird Classic on Feb. 13-14 at Dobson Ranch Golf Course in Mesa, Ariz. He carded a 7-under 137, including a 5-under 67 in the second round, to claim the individual medalist honors. 

He tied for 18th at six-over with scores of 74 and 72 at the Paradise Valley Puma Spring Invitational on Feb. 25-26 at the Encanto Golf Course in Phoenix, Ariz. He also placed 30th at 20-over, 164 and moved up three spots after a second-round score of 79 at the Mountain Lion Spring Invitational at Sundance Golf Course in Buckeye, Ariz., on Mar. 8-9.  Finally, Greig tied for 30th at 14-over 158 with scores of 6-over 78 and 8-over 80 at the Gila Monsters Spring Invitational at the Mt. Graham Golf Club on April 8-9 in Safford, Ariz.

Blair spent two years at SMCC and will compete for the Niagara University Purple Aces in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. 

In 2023, Blair played in eight spring tournaments for the Cougars.  His best finish came when he tied for second at the Pima CC Invitational at -3 (141). He also placed fifth at the CGCC Invitational at -4 (138) and tied for seventh at the Eastern Arizona Invite at +1 (145). Finally, he tied for 16th at the Region I Division II Championships at +20 (304) and 70th at the NJCAA Division II National Championships at +25 (313). 

Blair played in two spring tournaments for SMCC in 2024. He carded a 3-under 141 with scores of 72 and 69 at the season-opening Mesa Thunderbird Classic on Feb. 13-14 at Dobson Ranch Golf Course in Mesa, Ariz.  He also tied for 12th at three-over with rounds of even-par 70 and three-over 73 at the Paradise Valley Puma Spring Invitational on Feb. 25-26 at the Encanto Golf Course in Phoenix, Ariz. 

Finch played two seasons at SMCC and will transfer to the Georgia State Panthers in the Sun Belt Conference. 

Originally from Kingman, Ariz., Finch earned 2023 NJCAA Division II PING Honorable Mention All-American & All-West Region honors after competing in seven tournaments as a freshman. He tied for 30th at the NJCAA Division II National Championships at +13 (301) and fourth at the Region I Division II Championships at +4 (288). He also earned 2023 GCAA NJCAA Division II All-Freshmen Team honors and tied for seventh at the Paradise Valley Invite at +1 (145). 

In 2024, Finch played in eight spring tournaments and tied for Individual Medalist honors at the Gaucho Spring Shootout at -3 (139). He also tied for fourth at the Puma Spring Invitational at -1 (139), placed sixth at the Mesa Thunderbird Classic at -4 (140), and finished seventh at the Cougars Spring Invitational at -1 (143). 

Klutke spent one season at SMCC and will transfer to Benedictine University-Mesa, an NAIA program that competes in the Golden State Athletic Conference. 

Klutke played in six spring tournaments and tied for 20th at the NJCAA Division II National Championships at +12 (300) to earn Honorable Mention All-American honors. He finished second at the Cougars Spring Invitational at -6 (138), fourth at the NJCAA Region I Championships at +10 (294), and fifth at the Gaucho Spring Invitational at -1 (141). He also placed 13th at the Gila Monsters Invitational at +5 (149), and tied for 13th at the Mountain Lion Spring Invitational at +10 (154).