April 21, 2009

Houston, Texas - The first Great West Conference golf championship ended Tuesday afternoon at Sienna Plantation with Houston Baptist University taking home the men's championship and the University of Texas-Pan American winning the women's title. UTPA's Armen Kirakossian and Haley Hocott took home the individual championships.

The HBU men entered the day leading by 18 strokes and extended that lead with a final round 295 to bring the team score for the tournament to 900 and take the tournament by a 33 stroke margin. UTPA (933) placed second, followed by Chicago State University (969), University of North Dakota (973) and University of South Dakota (983). Husky head coach David Shuster was named the Great West Coach of the Year.

Kirakossian ended the final round with a three-over-par 219 (72-74-73), tying him with HBU's Jordan Jeffers and pitting the two in a sudden death playoff. The playoff began on the first hole with Kirakossian recording an even par four to take the hole and title. The UTPA senior was named the Great West Player of the Year while Jeffers earned Newcomer of the Year honors.

UTPA's Shane Pearce (220) finished third while HBU's Andrew Rollins (222) and Sumin Yu (227) rounded out the top five.

On the women's side, HBU came in to the final round with a 14 stroke lead but a strong surge by UTPA vaulted the Lady Broncs to the women's title. UTPA fired the lowest round of the tournament for its final round, posting a 313 for a final team tally of 961. HBU (970) placed second while Utah Valley University (1,008), Chicago State (1,015), North Dakota (1,023) and South Dakota (1,125) rounded out the rest of the field. The Lady Broncs' Ofelia Lopez earned Coach of the Year honors.

Hocott, a sophomore, stormed to the front of the pack with a final round 73, the lowest individual round of the tournament. She started the day in eighth place and eight strokes out of first place but came back to win by five stroke wit ha three-round score of 235. Hocott earned Player of the Year honors.

In a tie for second place was UTPA's Mariale Camey (240) and HBU's Paige Gibson (240). Gibson, a freshman, got the nod for Newcomer of the Year recognition. Rounding out the top five was UTPA's Bronwyn Sandberg (243) followed by HBU's Andrea Zwartynski (245) and Brianna Maynard (245).

TEAM SCORES WOMEN

1. University of Texas-Pan American - 961 (327-321-313) 2. Houston Baptist University - 970 (315-319-336) 3. Utah Valley University - 1,008 (332-329-347) 4. Chicago State University - 1,015 (345-335-335) 5. University of North Dakota - 1,023 (345-337-341) 6. University of South Dakota - 1,125 (363-387-375)

MEN

1. Houston Baptist University - 900 (305-300-295) 2. University of Texas-Pan American - 933 (310-313-310) 3. Chicago State University - 969 (330-315-324) 4. University of South Dakota - 973 (324-332-312) 5. University of North Dakota - 983 (333-328-327)

AWARDS

WOMEN

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Haley Hocott, UTPA

COACH OF THE YEAR: Ofelia Lopez, UTPA

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Paige Gibson, HBU

FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE

Haley Hocott, UTPA Mariale Camey, UTPA Paige Gibson, HBU Bronwyn Sandberg, UTPA Andrea Zwartynski, HBU Brianna Maynard, HBU

SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE

Brittany Butler, UVU MJ Camey, UTPA Molly Martin, UND Laci Humphrey, HBU

MEN

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Armen Kirakossian, UTPA

COACH OF THE YEAR: David Shuster, HBU

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Jordan Jeffers

FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE

Armen Kirakossian, UTPA Jordan Jeffers, HBU Shane Pearce, UTPA Andrew Rollins, HBU Sumin Yu, HBU

SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE

Jim Walsh, USD Mark Slater, HBU Chris Blankenship, CSU Andrew Pleasant, CSU Brett Bennett, USD Tyler Monda, UND Ian Armstrong, HBU