Crimson & Gray Awards |
INDIANA, Pa. – The Crimson Hawks' men's golf team has been named the 2016-17 IUP Men's Team of the Year. The award was announced on Wednesday, June 14 by the IUP Athletic Department.
The award is part of the newly established Crimson & Gray Awards, which recognize the top athletes, coaches, teams and performances of the IUP Athletics season.
The Team of the Year Award is in its first year of existence.
The Crimson Hawks won the program's 27th all-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Men's Golf Championship this past fall season at the Hershey Country Club. IUP won the team title by two strokes over West Chester, shooting a tournament-best 13-over 297 during Sunday's second round to clinch victory.
The top of the standings was cluttered by several teams at the end of the opening round, as IUP sat two strokes behind West Chester, California (Pa.), and Mercyhurst, which were tied for the lead with a 20-over 304. The Crimson Hawks shot a 22-over 306.
Leading the comeback was senior
Max Kirsch (Ebensburg, Pa./Central Cambria), who took home individual medalist honors by finishing the championships with a four-over 146. He finished the opening round seven strokes off the lead with a seven-over 78, firing a career-best three-under 68 on Sunday before winning in a playoff hole.
The championship was the 27th for IUP since 1957, by far the most of any school in the PSAC. It was the first for the Crimson Hawks since 2012, who took home six straight conference championships from 2007-12. It was IUP's 10th PSAC title since 2000.
The PSAC Championship gave IUP an automatic berth in the 2017 NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Region Championships. It was a record 21st consecutive appearance in the NCAA regional championships for the IUP program. The Crimson Hawks finished eighth out of 20 teams.
Kirsch wrapped up his IUP career as a four-time PING All-Atlantic Region Team and All-PSAC selection.
Up next
The 2016-17 IUP Women's Team of the Year will be announced at 2:30 p.m. The inaugural Crimson & Gray Awards wrap up on Thursday with the announcements of the Men's and Women's Athletes of the Year.
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For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP Athletics on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk.
