NORMAN, Okla. --- Two Tusculum College student-athletes have been named to the 2016-2017 NCAA Division II Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar Men's Golf Team. Seniors Taylor Smith and Preston Tucker return to the All-America Scholar Team for a second straight season.
One-hundred-and-eight (108) Division II golfers in the country have been recognized by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). To be eligible for Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar status an individual must be a junior or senior academically, compete in at least three full years at the collegiate level, participate in 50-percent of his team's competitive rounds, have a stroke-average under 78.0 in Division II, 78.0 and maintain a minimum cumulative career grade-point average of 3.2. A recipient must also be of high moral character and be in good standing at his college or university.
Tusculum's two honorees are the second-most in the South Atlantic Conference, which boasted seven representatives.
Smith, a native of Gray, Tennessee, finished with a 3.36 GPA while majoring in business administration. He is a member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor and the Tusculum Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
Smith led the Pioneers with his 73.43 scoring average, which is the eighth-lowest ever by a Tusculum player. In his nine tournaments this past season, he tallied six top-20 performances, including five times in the top-10 and three in the top-five. He fired back-to-back rounds of 70 to post a four-under par 140 to win the Etowah Intercollegiate. He followed with another back-to-back 70-70=140 (-2) to finish fourth at the Tusculum Fall Classic. He later tied for sixth at the State Farm Intercollegiate with a 54-hole total 214 (-2) for the fourth lowest three-round score in school history. He finished fifth at the Walters State Fall Classic and ninth at the Tusculum Invitational. He wrapped up his collegiate career with a 20th place finish at the weather-abbreviated South Atlantic Conference Championship.
During his Tusculum career, Smith accounted for a 75.31 stroke average which is currently the seventh lowest in program history. His 14 career sub-par rounds are the sixth-most by a Pioneer.
Tucker, a native of Knoxville, Tennessee graduated from Tusculum in May with a 3.90 GPA while majoring in business administration. He is a member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, Dean's List, President's List, Charles Oliver Gray Honors List and the Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
Tucker's 77.0 scoring average this year was sixth on the team which included two top-20 finishes. His best showing of the year came at the Tusculum Fall Classic, tying for 14th place with 74-70=144.
He logged a career average of 76.63 during his three seasons with the Pioneers.
NCAA Division II Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholars
Jose Acevedo, Missouri-St. Louis
Angel Aguirre, West Texas A&M
Eliott Azoulay, St. Edward's
Barry Babbitt, Rollins
Jackson Bailey, Lenoir-Rhyne
Ryan Ballard, Lewis
Mason Banger, Harding
Casey Bannon, Saint Leo
Kyle Barnett, Malone
Matt Barry, Missouri-St. Louis
Chandler Blanchet, West Florida
Jordan Bollenbacher, Tiffin
Austin Buente, Lewis
Will Bundy, Coker
Ben Cook, Ferris State
John Coultas, Florida Southern
Julien de Poyen, Missouri-St. Louis
Ryan Dyck, Lindenwood
Collin Engelhardt, Rollins
Jacob English, Malone
Chris Fry, Brevard
Matt Garland, Northwood (Mich.)
Ryan Gendron, Saint Leo
Marques Gomez, Southwestern Oklahoma State
Greg Gonzalez, California Baptist
Austin Goodridge, Ohio Dominican
Brett Green, Tiffin
Jay Green, Tiffin
Sam Grindle, Rollins
Derek Hamm, Barton
Jake Harpe, Valdosta State
Ryan Harris, Bellarmine
Garrett Harrison, Colorado Mesa
Joey Hearn, St. Edward's
Matthew Hedges, CSU Monterey Bay
Eric Hill, Oklahoma Christian
Corban Hill, Arkansas-Fort Smith
Michael Hoare, Indiana (Pa.)
Johnson Holliday, USC Aiken
Stefan Idstam, Southwestern Oklahoma State
Dylan Igo, Southern Nazarene
Taylor Ingle, Coker
Wesley Jackson, Central Oklahoma
James Jessop, Saint Leo
Jack Kegelmeyer, Flagler
Max Kirsch, Indiana (Pa.)
Jack Korzon, Lewis
Mateusz Kucz, UC San Diego
Jonas Kugel, Florida Tech
Markus Lindberg, Missouri-St. Louis
Oskar Lundgren, Brevard
Ty Macias, Dominican (Calif.)
Graham McAree, Indianapolis
Trevor McKune, Colorado Mesa
Kyle McLay, Holy Name
Cal Meyers, Bentley
Connor Miele, Montana State-Billings
Michael Miranda, St. Thomas Aquinas
Price Murphree, Henderson State
Ben Murray, Palm Beach Atlantic
Drew Nelson, Dominican (Calif.)
Brannon O'Pry, West Alabama
Axel Östensson, USC Aiken
Trey Pearson, Young Harris
Dylan Pence, West Georgia
Colin Prater, UC Colorado Springs
Alec Riley, West Alabama
Davis Roche, Valdosta State
Justin Roth, Findlay
Jon Sain, Union (Tenn.)
Juan Luis Sanchez, Harding
Wilfredo Sanchez, Texas A&M-Commerce
Christian Sanders, California Baptist
Scott Schaeffer, Rockhurst
Tyler Schepens, Tiffin
Corey Sheppard, Lee
Justin Shluker, Sonoma State
Kyler Smith, Colorado Mesa
Trent Smith, Lewis
Taylor Smith, Tusculum
Austin Sparks, North Alabama
Harris Stevens, West Alabama
Evan Stoker, Indianapolis
Sebastian Strehl, Brevard
Eric Thompson, Ohio Dominican
Ryan Thompson, Ohio Dominican
Jacob Tinsley, Armstrong State
Juan Torrente, Lindenwood
Joe Torres, Hillsdale
Alex Trevino, Colorado Mesa
Cody Troutman, Central Oklahoma
Preston Tucker, Tusculum
Patrick Twesme, North Alabama
Jakob van de Flierdt, Rollins
John VanDerLaan, Florida Southern
Carson Vaughn, West Georgia
DJ Vogt, Bellarmine
David Wallin, Young Harris
Chandler Walnsch, Ashland
Nicholas Ward, Georgia Southwestern State
Cam Wardley, Findlay
Harry Wetton, Western New Mexico
Ross White, Western New Mexico
Alex Williamson, Harding
Tate Williamson, Northeastern State
Jackson Wright, Indianapolis
Blake Young, UC Colorado Springs
Olav Zandveld, Valdosta State