2021 Men's Golf Year-in-Review
PHOENIX ---
The South Mountain Community College men's golf team had another stellar season in 2021, winning seven tournaments as a team and posting the individual medalist in every tournament the Cougars entered. SMCC finished as National Runners-Up at the 2021 NJCAA Division II National Championships, and head coach Aaron Puetz and the Cougars fielded one of the top squads in the country.
Team Results
SMCC won the first seven tournaments it entered in the 2021 spring, returning to competition with vigor after the coronavirus pandemic canceled the 2020 season.
Playing in their first tournament in nearly 11 months, the Cougars put together a strong showing at the 2021 season opener, the Mesa CC Invitational. The team finished the two days at 548, improving by four strokes on the second day, and captured the team title by 34 strokes over second-place Paradise Valley CC.
At the Scottsdale CC invitational, SMCC fired a -12 (564) to win the event at Hillcrest Golf Club. The Cougars then won the Gaucho AZ Showdown by 14 strokes over Mesa CC. The team improved by 10 strokes from round one to round two, highlighted by three student-athletes finishing under par for the day.
At the Pima CC Invitational at Randolph North Golf Course, the Cougars fired a 16-under, 560 over the two days to win the event by 33 strokes over Glendale CC. The team opened with a 14-under, 274 on the first day and followed with a two-under, 286 in the second round.
At their home tournament, the South Mountain Classic at The Legacy Golf Course, the Cougars took home the team title with a 10-under 558. As a team, the Cougars fired identical rounds of five-under, 279 over the two days to topple seven of their Arizona Community College Athletic Conference rivals.
As a team, SMCC finished at two-under, 574 and captured the event title at the Paradise Valley Invitational, at Gainey Ranch Golf Course, by six strokes over Glendale CC. The Cougars opened with a three-under 285 and closed out the event with a one-over 289.
The team won the NJCAA Region I Division II Championship at Gold Canyon Golf Course from April 29-May 2. The Cougars finished the event at 11-over, 1131 for the four rounds. SMCC posted rounds of 281, 278, 285 and 287 to defeat second-place Glendale Community College by 27 strokes and third-place Mesa Community College by 47 strokes. The Cougars' second-round score of 278 was the only team score under par at the event.
Finally, the Cougars opened with two solid rounds to put them in the lead at the NJCAA Division II National Championships at Swan Lake Resort in Indiana. However, a tough third day dropped them to second, and they were unable to catch 2021 NJCAA Division II National Champion Parkland CC (Fla.), who wound up beating SMCC by two strokes.
Individual Results
Freshman Cecil Belisle finished at six-under, 282 to win Individual Medalist honors at the NJCAA Division II National Championships May 18-21 at Swan Lake Resort in Indiana. After the first two rounds, he was nine-under-par and finished at even-par 72 in the final round to win the event. He later received NJCAA Division II First Team All-American honors.
Belisle also received First Team ACCAC Division II and NJCAA Region I honors earlier this spring. He claimed individual medalist honors with a four-under, 276 over the four rounds at the NJCAA Region I Division II tournament, including a five-under performance over rounds two and three. 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, Belisle posted an even-par 72 and took individual medalist honors by two strokes.
Sophomore Nick Hedman won twice during the spring, claiming individual medalist honors at the Pima CC Invitational and the Paradise Valley Invitational, and earned Second Team NJCAA Division II All-American honors after tying for 15th in NJCAA Division II Championships. He also received First Team All-ACCAC and NJCAA All-Region I Division II honors.
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 on 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.
Sophomore Ryan Macpherson won twice during the spring and earned Second Team NJCAA Division II All-American honors. He also received Second Team All-ACCAC and NJCAA All-Region I Division II honors.
Macpherson 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 on 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.
Freshman Damon Vilkauskas earned Honorable Mention NJCAA Division II All-American honors after he tied for 22nd at 12-over, posting three rounds of 74 at the National Championships. He also received First Team All-ACCAC and NJCAA Region I Division II awards.
Vilkauskas 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.
Freshman Jando Hernandez received Honorable Mention NJCAA Division II All-American honors after he tied for 26th at 13-over in Indiana, carding two rounds of 74 to open the event. He posted a season-best, two-round score of 144 twice and finished at even-par at the Mesa Thunderbird Invitational and Scottsdale CC Invitational.
Sophomore Leon Acikalin took home individual medalist honors at the Gaucho AZ Showdown at Corte Bella Golf Course. He won a scorecard playoff based on his score on the back nine of Wednesday's round to edge Paradise Valley CC's Justin Terry. After carding an even-par 72 in the first round, Acikalin shot four-under 68 in the second round and tied with Terry. The deadlock went to the scorecards, where Acikalin had a lower score on the final nine holes of the tournament.
Freshman Jake Carlson competed in three tournaments during the season. His best finish came at the Pima CC Invitational, where he tied for second with a one-under, 143. He also played at the Gaucho AZ Showdown and the South Mountain Classic.
Freshman Ryan Vickers played in the Scottsdale CC Invitational, tying for 32nd at 15-over, 159.