OCU’s Jack Madden named SAC Golfer of the Year

AMARILLO, Texas – Jack Madden from Oklahoma City University garnered Sooner Athletic Conference men’s golf player of the year.

Madden, a freshman from Dungannon, Northern Ireland, Ireland, also took SAC freshman of the year. Texas Wesleyan landed two all-conference choices and the SAC coach of the year, Bobby Cornett.

Tyron Davidowitz and Futa Yamagishi of Texas Wesleyan snared all-SAC honors. Oklahoma City had two all-SAC performers in Madden and Peri’Don Castille, while Johannes Hounsgaard from Wayland Baptist picked up all-conference acclaim.

Madden has accumulated a 72.30 scoring average with 87 birdies, two eagles, two victories and three runner-up finishes in 30 rounds. Madden notched his sixth top-five finish to collect all-tournament honors in the SAC Championships on Monday and Tuesday at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas.

This season, Madden took two SAC golfer of the week honors. Madden has posted four sub-70 rounds, including a season-best 66 to secure the win in the Ottawa-Arizona Invitational on Jan. 28-29 in Litchfield Park, Ariz.

Castille, a junior from Dallas, has averaged 72.93 shots per round with 112 birdies and two eagles in 30 rounds. Castille owns four top-five finishes and six top-10 showings this season. He finished tied for second in the San Antonio Shootout on March 4-5 and tied for ninth in the SAC Championships.

Davidowitz, a sophomore from Hermanus, South Africa, has supplied Texas Wesleyan with a 73.71 scoring average and 22 birdies this season. Davidowitz reeled in all-tournament acclaim with a tie for fifth place in the SAC Championships.

Hounsgaard, a freshman from Chieming, Germany, grabbed the SAC individual title by four strokes. Hounsgaard erased a three-shot deficit entering the final 18 holes by being the only golfer in the field under par Tuesday. He made birdies on two of his last four holes to clinch his first career victory. Hounsgaard has provided Wayland Baptist with 74.51 strokes per 18 holes with two top-10 showings.

Yamagishi, a senior from Tokyo, has accrued a 73.83 stroke average with 56 birdies on the season. Yamagishi earned an all-tournament nod with a fourth-place showing in the conference tournament.

Cornett led Texas Wesleyan to its first SAC championship by 10 strokes. The Rams took their first league title since winning the Red River Athletic Conference crown in 2012. Texas Wesleyan has five victories in eight starts this season. Cornett has guided Texas Wesleyan to 89 wins in 21 years as head coach.

The NAIA Championships occur May 21-24 at Las Sendas Golf Club in Mesa, Ariz.

 All-Sooner Athletic Conference

Men’s Golf

Player of the year: Jack Madden, Oklahoma City

Freshman of the year: Jack Madden, Oklahoma City

Coach of the year: Bobby Cornett, Texas Wesleyan