The Aurora University Spartan men's golf team won its first Northern Athletics Conference championship at Whistling Straits Irish Course in Kohler, Wisconsin. In doing so, the team had numerous post season award recipients when the NAC named its 2009 All-Conference, Player, Coach and NAC Freshman of the Years.
The Spartans won the title with a team score of 620, 44-over par. AU concluded the opening round on Monday (October 12) with a 305, which was the best team round at the two-day championship, while their 315 reigned best of Tuesday's (October 13) scores.
The Spartans had three individuals place in the top five of the championship: sophomore Brandon Vicory (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora), junior Cameron Parker (Muncie, Ind./Delta) and senior Shane Roland (Knightstown, Ind./Knightstown) placed second, third and fifth, respectively.
For his impressive showing in events this fall, including the NAC Championships, Vicory was named the 2009 Northern Athletics Conference Men’s Golf Player of the Year and NAC All-Conference, just one year after being named the NAC Freshman of the Year and All-Conference. Vicory led the NAC with a 75.7 average this season and shot a 6-over 150 (75-75) at the 2009 NAC Championship earlier this week before losing medalist honors on a playoff tiebreaker to Edgewood College's Aaron Gavin.
Parker and Roland both joined Vicory as 2009 NAC All-Conference selections, Parker finished third, shooting a 153 (77/76) and Roland was fifth, shooting a 155 (74/81). For both Parker and Roland, the selection is their second time being named NAC All-Conference. Parker was selected following the 2007 season and Roland after the 2006 campaign.
Additionally, after capturing the Spartans’ first NAC Men’s Golf Championship, Spartan head coach John Donofrio was voted NAC Coach of the Year by his peers. The Spartans also averaged a conference-best 313.2 average in six events.
