Dillon Dean Wins April 2024 SwingU College Player of the Month Honors
PHOENIX ---
The Golf Coaches Association of America announced that freshman Dillon Dean of the South Mountain Community College men's golf team received April 2024 SwingU College Player of the Month honors. Dean won two of the three events the Cougars competed in and helped lead SMCC to three tournament victories, including the ACCAC Division II Region 1 title.
Dean won the Cougars Spring Invitational to start the month, 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.
At the Gila Monsters Spring Invitational at the Mt. Graham Golf Club on April 8-9 in Safford, Ariz., Dean tied for sixth at 1-over 145 with scores of 2-under 70 and 3-over 75. He had three birdies in his first round, including an eagle on the par-five No. 14, and two birdies in his second.
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.
Dean finished under par in three of his four rounds, posting scores of 1-under 70 in the first, second, and final rounds. He was the only competitor to finish under par for the competition, and he recorded 21 birdies over the 72 holes, including six in each of the first two rounds.
Dean was the Golf Coaches Association of America March 2024 NJCAA Division II SwingU College Player of the Month after he won the Mountain Lion Spring Invitational and tied for the tournament title at the Gaucho Spring Shootout Invitational.
SMCC finished at 29-over 1,165 to win the ACCAC Division II Region 1 Championships and now heads to Joplin, Mo., to compete in the 2024 NJCAA Division II National Championships at Twin Hills Golf & Country Club from May 21-24.