ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Tusculum College's Brad Hawkins has been named the 2016 South Atlantic Conference Men's Golf Player of the Year announced league officials Wednesday.

Hawkins and senior teammate Nick Forsberg were both named to the All-SAC first team marking only the third time in school history that two Pioneers garnered first team accolades in the same season. Hawkins earns a spot on the All-SAC first team for a second straight year, while Forsberg picks up his second All-SAC accolade, earning second team laurels during the 2012-2013 campaign.

Hawkins, a senior from Knoxville, Tennessee, becomes the fourth Pioneer in program history to earn the SAC's top golf honor, joining former TC greats Brent Dyson (2001-02), Chris Wynne (2007-08) and Chase Carroll (2008-09).

He is having arguably the best season in program history as he owns a NCAA Division II-leading 70.05 scoring average, which is on pace to be a new Tusculum and SAC single-season record. The Knox Central High School graduate has finished in the top-five in eight of his 10 events this year, including medalist honors at the State Farm Intercollegiate, Pioneer Classic and Hargett Memorial Intercollegiate.

Hawkins has carded a school single-season record 12 sub-par rounds, with nine of those in the 60s, including an 18-hole TC and SAC record 63 at the Pioneer Classic last fall. During the Pioneer Classic, he carded the lowest 36-hole score in school and SAC history with an eight-under par 132. He also established the 54-hole TC and SAC record with a remarkable 16-under par 200 at the State Farm Intercollegiate.

The 2015 GCAA All-Region standout leads the nation in score versus par (1.33) and par 5 scoring (4.50). He is also second in NCAA II in sub-par stroke per round (4.47) and third in par 4 scoring (4.02).

Hawkins career scoring average of 71.14 at Tusculum is also on pace to shatter the college and conference record book. His five career medalist wins are tied for third most at Tusculum, while his 20 career sub-par rounds are second in TC history and two off the record set by Chase Carroll from 2005-2009.

Forsberg, a native of Staples, Minnesota, is currently fifth in the league in scoring posting a stroke average of 72.31, which is 23rd in the country. Forsberg has finished in the top-10 in seven of his 10 tournaments, including five times in the top-three. He captured a share of medalist honors at the Etowah Spring Challenge held at the Etowah Valley Golf Club, the host site of this weekend's SAC Championship. He also finished runner-up at the Pioneer Classic, Tusculum Invitational and Fincastle Collegiate Invitational.

Forsberg logged eight sub-par rounds this year which are tied for the fourth-most in school history. He matched a career-low with his 67 in the final round of the Pioneer Classic. In that tournament, the Staples-Motley High School graduate posted a career-best 135 (-5) for 36 holes, which is fifth in TC history.

Forsberg has won two tournaments in his career, including last year's SAC Championship where he garnered tournament most valuable player. His career scoring average of 74.31 is third in program history, while his 85 rounds are the third most by a Pioneer. He has also posted 18 sub-par rounds which are tied for third in the school record book.

Hawkins and Forsberg are both outstanding students as well. Both were named to the GCAA All-America Scholar Team and both are members of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll and Tusculum Athletic Director's Honor Rolls.

Tusculum returns to action at the SAC Championship, which will be held Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in Etowah, North Carolina and hosted by Brevard College. The winner of the three-day, 54-hole tournament earns an automatic berth to next month's NCAA II Tournament.

The Pioneers are the defending South Atlantic Conference Champions as TC won by two shots at last year's event held in Marvin, North Carolina.

Tusculum has won five team titles this season, matching last year's school record total. The Pioneers were champions at the Tusculum Fall Classic, Walters State Invitational, Pioneer Classic, Tusculum Invitational and the Fincastle Collegiate Invitational. Tusculum also finished runner-up at the Etowah Spring Challenge and fourth at the State Farm Intercollegiate.

- SAC -

2016 All-South Atlantic Conference Men's Golf Team
First Team
Brad Hawkins, Tusculum
Andrew Hall, Carson-Newman
Sam Broadhurst, Lincoln Memorial
Dalton Reese, Carson-Newman
Nick Forsberg, Tusculum

Second Team
Adam Lumley, Mars Hill
Oskar Lundgren, Brevard College
Will Bundy, Coker
Cody Johnson, Lincoln Memorial
Carlos Leandro, Newberry

Honorable Mention
Jake Headrick, Carson-Newman
Tyler Stone, Wingate
John McFadyen, Queens
Lukas Ricther, Wingate
George Duncan, Lincoln Memorial

SAC Player of the Year: Brad Hawkins, Tusculum
SAC Freshman of the Year: Sam Broadhurst, Lincoln Memorial
SAC Coach of the Year: Randy Wylie, Carson-Newman