GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum College men's golf team will enter this year's South Atlantic Conference championship as the hunted when the Pioneers begin defense of their league title when this year's 12-team tournament begins Sunday in Etowah, North Carolina.

The three-day, 54-hole championship will be held at the Etowah Valley Golf Club on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday with the winner claiming the league's automatic bid to next month's NCAA Division II Tournament.

Tusculum captured the program's first SAC Championship a year ago and sixth overall league title, all under the direction of TC Sports Hall of Fame coach Bob Dibble. The Pioneers return four of the five players who won last year's conference crown in Marvin, North Carolina, including the defending medalist and two others who earned spots on the SAC All-Tournament team.

Leading the charge for the Orange & Black is 2016 South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year Brad Hawkins. The Knoxville, Tennessee senior became the fourth Pioneer in program history to earn the SAC's top golf honor, joining former TC greats Brent Dyson (2002), Chris Wynne (2008) and Chase Carroll (2009).

Hawkins, a two-time All-SAC first team selection, is having arguably the best season in program history as he currently leads the nation with his 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.

Hawkins will be looking to improve upon last year's SAC Championship performance as he finished sixth to earn SAC All-Tournament second team accolades.

As good as a season as Hawkins is posting, the hottest player on the TC lineup may be senior Nick Forsberg. The Staples, Minnesota product 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 won the 2015 SAC Championship with a one-under par 143 including a birdie on the final hole for a three-shot victory. He posted a runner-up finish at the 2014 league championship.

In his last four tournaments, Forsberg has a 71.00 stroke average, including three outings where he finished second or better. He captured a share of medalist honors at the Etowah Spring Challenge earlier this month on the Etowah Valley layout. He also finished runner-up at the Tusculum Invitational and Fincastle Collegiate Invitational.

The 2016 All-SAC first team honoree has 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.

The two-time All-SAC selection has a career scoring average of 74.31 which 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.

Junior Taylor Smith will be playing in his second consecutive SAC Championship. The Gray, Tennessee native is third on the team with his 74.67 scoring average and has recorded six top-20 showings, including four in the top-10 and two top-five finishes.

At last year's championship, he finished in sole possession of ninth place to garner SAC All-Tournament accolades.

The Daniel Boone High School graduate finished fourth at the Tusculum Fall Classic, including a season-low round of 68. He also finished fourth at the Pioneer Classic last fall with a one-under par 139, including a 69 in the opening round.

In his 48 career rounds, Smith has posted a 75.68 stroke average, which is the 10th-lowest in program history.

Junior Chris Hutson will also be making his second appearance at the league championship. The Knoxville native is fourth on the roster with his 76.36 average, including six finishes in the top-20 and four times in the top-10.

Hutson tied for fifth place at last month's Tusculum Invitational where he logged a season-low 68 in the first round. He also placed fifth at the Fincastle Collegiate Invitational and finished 10th at the Etowah Spring Challenge. He will be looking to improve on last year's 31st place showing at the SAC Championship. Hutson owns a 76.64 career stroke average, which is 17th in the TC record book.

Junior Preston Tucker will be making his SAC Championship debut will play begins on Sunday. Tucker owns a 76.75 scoring average and has finished in the top-20 three times and twice in the top-10 in his nine tournaments. The Knoxville Catholic graduate finished ninth at the Pioneer Classic and 10th at the Verizon Walters State Invitational.

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.

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