Dillon Dean Named March 2024 NJCAA Division II SwingU College Player of the Month
PHOENIX ---
The Golf Coaches Association of America announced on Wednesday, April 10, that freshman Dillon Dean of the South Mountain Community College men's golf team received the March 2024 NJCAA Division II SwingU College Player of the Month award. Dean won individual medalist honors at one event and tied with other competitors for co-individual medalist honors at a second, all while helping lead the Cougars to a pair of team tournament victories.
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. After posting five birdies, Dean found himself one stroke off the pace after 18 holes at 1-under 71. In his second round, he posted another five birdies and went 2-under over the final nine holes to claim the tournament title.
Dean 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. Dean had four birdies in his first round, three in his second, and an eagle three on the 36th hole of the tournament. He opened with a 1-under 70 and then recorded a 2-under 69 in his second round.
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. He won his third-straight event with a score of 12-under 132, including a 10-under 62 in his second round.
Dean's performance was nothing short of spectacular. He started with an eagle three on the second and followed it up with eight birdies over the next 16 holes, securing the individual medalist honors with a comfortable six-stroke lead. His first round was equally impressive, with an eagle two on No. 8 and a strong finish with four birdies over the final five holes.
He also has two other top-10 finishes this spring and has helped lead the SMCC men's team to a tournament title at all six spring events in which they've participated.
