April 8, 2022

MacGregor named SAC Freshman of the Year

ROCK HILL, S.C. - Freshman Elliot MacGregor was named SAC Men's Golf Freshman of the Year by the conference on Friday, Apr. 8.

The freshman out of Shepperton, Middlesex, England earned the honor after being voted the freshman of the year by the SAC coaches.

"It means a lot," says MacGregor. "I didn't have that great of a season in my mind. But that tournament win helped. Congrats to all of the other guys, especially Jon who has helped me tremendously since I've gotten here. All of those guys are willing to help me get better. Hopefully I can stay more consistent moving forward and rack up some more top-20 finishes and event wins."

MacGregor made an immediate impact for the Eagles, finishing 20th at his first collegiate golf event, the Cougar Invitational on Sept. 28, 2021, with an eight-over 218 three-round score. The next week at the South/Southeast Region Preview event, MacGregor finished tied for 22nd with a five-over 221 three-round score.

The freshman recorded his highest finish of the season and his first career event win, shooting nine-under throughout the week, finishing with a final score of 135. MacGregor had the best score of any competitor on par fours, shooting six-under and an average score of 3.70. His 11 birdies were second-most in the field. His final two-round score is the lowest score after 36-holes in the history of the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate Tournament.

MacGregor is the first Carson-Newman men's golfer to earn SAC Freshman of the Year honors since Tom Forester did after the 2016-17 season. Maeve Cummins is the last golfer overall to win the award, taking home the women's freshman of the year honor after the 2018-19 season.

Three Eagles earned All-Conference honors, with Jonathan Nielsen earning first team laurels and Alex Hodge and Jake Mynatt earning a spot on the All-SAC second team.

Nielsen has been on a tear this season for the Eagles, recording four top-10 finishes. The Hørsholm, Denmark native set a new course record at the Atlanta Country Club earlier this season, with a nine-under, 63 in the second round of the Southern Tide Intercollegiate. Nielsen went on to win the individual event championship at the tournament with a seven-under 209 for the week.

Nielsen is ranked as the ninth-best golfer in all of Division-II according to Golfstat. The sophomore as shot an average one-under 71.29 this season.

This is the first career All-Conference award for Nielsen in his career.

Alex Hodge earns All-SAC second team honors for the third straight season. The senior out of Knoxville has recorded two top-10 finishes this season, carding a season-low seven-under 65 second round at the Queens Fall Invitational. Hodge finished fifth at the event with a nine-under 209, guiding the Eagles to an event championship. He also finished third at the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate with an eight-under 136, just one stroke from a three-way tie for first.

Hodge is ranked 58th overall in the Golfstat rankings, shooting an average even-par 72.60 this year.

After two seasons on the SAC All-Honorable Mention team, Mynatt earns his first career All-SAC second team honor. The Knoxville native has recorded three top-10 finishes this season, including the highest finish of any Eagle at the Tennessee River Rumble event, finishing tied for sixth with a three-under 213. The junior finished fifth at the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate event with a seven-under 137.

Mynatt is ranked 60th in the Golfstat rankings with a 72.61 average this season.

Luke Harries of Lincoln Memorial was named SAC Men's Golfer of the Year while Travis Muncy of Lincoln Memorial earned Coach of the Year.

Carson-Newman competes for the SAC men's golf championship beginning on Apr. 10. Fans can keep up with all of the news on the men's golf team at cneagles.com

2022 SAC Men's Golf All-Conference

First Team

Luke Harries, Lincoln Memorial
Kristoffer Larsson, Limestone
Levi Moody, Limestone
Jonathan Nielsen, Carson-Newman
Ollie Smith, Queens

Second Team
Reece Coleman, Anderson
Alex Hodge, Carson-Newman
Harry Lord, Lincoln Memorial
Jake Mynatt, Carson-Newman
Drake Wilcox, Queens

Third Team
Tom Bueschges, Newberry
Alex James, Lincoln Memorial
Matthew Raybould, Lenoir-Rhyne
Killian Ryan, Coker
Pontus Samuelsson, Limestone

Men's Golfer of the Year
Luke Harries, Lincoln Memorial

Men's Golf Freshman of the Year
Elliot MacGregor, Carson-Newman

Men's Golf Coach of the Year
Travis Muncy, Lincoln Memorial