IUP won its first PSAC golf championship since 2004 and seventh in the past 11 years, taking an eight-shot win over the California women's team at the conference tournament held at the Wrendale Golf Club in Hummelstown.

Sophomore Gavin Smith (right), the reigning PSAC Rookie of the Year, won medalist honors and was the tournament MVP with a score of three-under par 141, the only golfer under par in the two-day event. 

He finished five shots ahead of Simone DeSouza of California to become the first IUP golfer to win the conference individual title since Graham Hill in 2005.

IUP had a team score of 606 to maintain its eight-shot lead it had built over Clarion following the first round of the tournament on Saturday. 

After IUP and the California women, who had a score of 614, were Millersville (621), Clarion (622), West Chester (636), the California men (641), Kutztown (663) and the West Chester women (787).

Golf is the only sport in the PSAC in which men and women compete for the same conference championship.

Smith improved on his sixth place finish at the PSAC tournament a year ago with rounds of 68 on Saturday, the best of the weekend, an a 73 on Sunday.  He was joined on the all-conference team by teammates Nic Milito (153, tied for seventh) and Leo Acklin (155, tied for ninth).

Also competing for the Crimson Hawks were Ryan Kennedy (158, tied for 17th) and Cory Stelick (167, tied for 26th).

The IUP golf season will resume in the spring, with the schedule including the NCAA East Region and national tournaments.

Left to right: Gavin Smith, Nic Milito, Leo Acklin, Ryan Kennedy and Cory Stelick pose with the PSAC championship trophy