Tuesday, April 26, 2016

PORTLAND, Ore. – A dominant individual season from Simon Fraser sophomore Chris Crisologo and an incredible late season run by Western Washington lead the selections to the 2015-16 GNAC Men’s Golf All-Conference Team.

Crisologo was selected by the conference coaches as Player of the Year after receiving the Freshman of the Year award in 2015. The sophomore paced all GNAC golfers with an average round score of 71.0 and tied for third place at the GNAC Championships at 5-under-par 208. Crisologo was the medalist at two tournaments and finished in the top-five in five of eight events. He will continue his season, along with Simon Fraser's team, at the NCAA Division II South Central/West Super Regionals, May 2-4 in Las Cruces, N.M.

After winning the GNAC Championships, Western Washington claimed the remaining three special awards. GNAC individual champion Brett Johnson was named Newcomer of the Year, Michael Butler was selected Freshman of the Year and Luke Bennett was voted Coach of the Year. The trio will lead the Vikings to the super regionals next week for the 18th consecutive season.

Johnson’s tremendous season took center stage when he set a tournament record at the GNAC Championships with a score of 10-under-par 203. The junior transfer out of Oregon State ranks second behind Crisologo with an average round score of 72.5 in 28 rounds.

Butler is tied for fourth in the GNAC with an average round score of 73.6 and helped lead the Vikings to a conference title by finishing sixth place at 3-under-par 210. He is the only freshman on the all-conference team, selected as a second team member.

In his third season as head coach, Bennett was named the Coach of the Year after leading the Vikings to the conference title. As a team, Western Washington ranks second in the GNAC with an average round score of 293.3.

Simon Fraser and Western Washington each placed four on the all-conference team. The Clan’s Bret Thompson was placed on the second team, marking four years as an all-conference selection for the senior. Kevin Vigna, the 2014-15 Player of the Year, was selected a first team member for the third consecutive season.  

2015-16 GNAC MEN’S GOLF ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Player of the Year: Chris Crisologo, Simon Fraser
Coach of the Year: Luke Bennett, Western Washington
Freshman of the Year: Michael Butler, Western Washington
Newcomer of the Year: Brett Johnson, Western Washington

* - First Team Selection In 2014-15  
+ - First Team Selection In 2013-14
@ - Second Team Selection In 2014-15
% - Second Team Selection In 2013-14
$ - Second Team Selection In 2012-13