MARVIN, N.C. --- Nick Forsberg birdied the 18th hole to lead the Tusculum College men's golf team to the 2015 South Atlantic Conference Men's Golf Championship. The 12-team, 36-hole tournament was held at Firethorne Country Club and hosted by Queens University of Charlotte on the par-72, 6,904-yard layout.

The Pioneers finished with a two-day score of 597, including Tuesday's final round 302 to claim the program's first SAC Championship and their sixth conference title overall. Tusculum finished two shots ahead of runner-up Wingate University (599), who made a furious second-day charge.

Tusculum also claims the league's automatic berth to next month's NCAA Division II Super Regional, which will be held in Dade City, Florida (May 4-6). It will be the Pioneers' first NCAA postseason appearance in school history.

Forsberg, a junior from Staples, Minnesota, finished with a one-under par total of 143, including a final round 73 to win by three shots over 2014 SAC Tournament champion Benedict Gebhardt (72-74=146) of Wingate.

Tusculum, who entered the final round sporting a six-shot advantage, maintained the lead throughout most of the day. Wingate trimmed the deficit to two shots after 12 holes, but the Pioneers moved their lead back to four shots after the 15th hole. With two holes remaining, Wingate made up the four-shot deficit and tied the Pioneers with just two holes remaining.

Tusculum regained the lead when junior Brad Hawkins finished one-under par on his final three holes, including a birdie on the par-four 16th hole. Leading by a single-shot, Forsberg closed the door as he finished off his round with a birdie on the final hole to seal the Pioneer victory and claim his first collegiate medalist title.

Hawkins, an All-SAC first team selection from Knoxville, Tennessee, finished in a three-way tie for sixth place with 73-77=150 to earn a spot on the SAC All-Tournament second team. Taylor Smith, a sophomore from Gray, Tennessee, tied for ninth position with 75-76=151 to also claim SAC All-Tournament second team recognition.

Tusculum senior Warren Cheney (Nashville, Tenn.) tied for 22nd place with back-to-back rounds of 77 to shoot a two-day score of 154. Sophomore Chris Hutson (Knoxville, Tenn.) finished 31st with 80-76=156, including an even par total of 36 on his final nine holes, which included a pair of birdies.

Queens finished third in the team competition with 610, while Lincoln Memorial University and Newberry College tied for fourth place at 613. Coker College and Mars Hill University tied for sixth place with 617, followed by Lenoir-Rhyne University (620), Brevard College (633), Carson-Newman University (634), Catawba College (639) and Anderson University (645).

Tusculum claims its fifth team title this season and fourth tournament trophy this spring. The five team championships establish a new program single-season record for most titles in a year, breaking the previous TC record of four set by the 2010-2011 squad.

- SAC -

2015 SAC All-Tournament Team
First Team
Nick Forsberg, Tusculum (Medalist)
Benedict Gebhardt, Wingate
Phillip Konnikov, Wingate
Alex Rios, Coker
Evan Ruhling, Queens-Cha

Second Team
Brad Hawkins,Tusculum
Andrew Hall, Carson-Newman
Jackson Bailey, Lenoir-Rhyne
Taylor Smith, Tusculum
Alex Merriman, Anderson
Ryan Wilkinson, Newberry