Thursday, May 3, 2018

PORTLAND, Ore. – Ending his career as arguably the most dominant player in conference history, Simon Fraser senior Chris Crisologo is once again the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year, headlining selections to the 2017-18 GNAC Men’s Golf All-Conference Team.

Crisologo, a three-time GNAC Player of the Year, is the first four-time First Team All-GNAC men’s golf selection. The senior was named the GNAC Player of the Week on four occasions this season and leads the conference with a 70.6 stroke average. He had seven top-five finishes, which includes a tie for fifth at the GNAC Championships and a first-place finish in October’s Concordia Invitational. Crisologo will also make his fourth appearance at the NCAA Division II West/South Central Regional next week in Amarillo, Texas.

In his first full season at the helm, Simon Fraser head coach Matthew Steinbach was chosen by his peers as the GNAC Coach of the Year. Steinbach led the Clan to its first conference championship since the 2015 campaign after guiding SFU to a nine-stroke victory at the GNAC Championships.

Second in the league in stroke average, Western Washington’s Brody Bonfilio was voted as the GNAC Freshman of the Year and First Team All-GNAC after impressive sessions in both the fall and spring. Bonfilio led the Vikings with five top-10 finishes and tied for first place at the Notre Dame de Namur Invitational in March. At the GNAC Championships, Bonfilio carded a 1-over par 214 to earn a third-place finish.

Concordia sophomore Jaxson Daskalos was selected as the GNAC Newcomer of the Year following a season that saw him finish second for the Cavaliers with a 75.2 stroke average. Daskalos came in ninth with a 5-over par 218 at the GNAC Championships, clubbing a 2-under par 69 in the tournament’s final round.

Crisologo is the only repeat selection to the First Team. Joining him on the list is Western Washington sophomore Ethan Casto and Bonfilio. Simon Fraser sees three more players named to the First Team in senior Craig Titterington, sophomore Sy Lovan and sophomore Scott Kerr. Concordia rounds out the honorees with senior Nick Huff.

Casto, the 2018 GNAC individual champion, claimed the title after edging Titterington in a one-hole playoff at the GNAC Championships to finish at 4-under par 209. Casto is second on WUU with a 73.9 stroke average and is one of three Vikings to play in all nine events this season.

Earning his first all-conference selection, Titterington helped Simon Fraser earn its second GNAC title after leading the team with a 4-under 209 to finish in second place at the GNAC Championships. Titterington is also fourth on the team with a 75.2 stroke average.

Lovan and Kerr have played instrumental roles in the Clan’s successful season. The duo finished in fourth and tied for fifth at the conference championships and are among GNAC leaders in stroke average. Kerr is second on the team with four top-10 finishes and was the individual medalist in September’s Western Washington Invitational after shooting a 10-under par 206.

Huff rounds out the First Team picks as Concordia’s stroke leader at 73.8 per round. The senior finished in a tie for fifth place at the GNAC Championships and has recorded three top-five finishes. Huff paces a Cavaliers team that averages 298.8 strokes per round this year. He will join the teams of Simon Fraser and Western Washington at next week’s NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championships.

Of the six players receiving Second Team All-GNAC recognition, two are repeat selections. Montana State Billings sophomore Caleb Stetzner and Saint Martin’s senior Andrew Raab were second-team honorees in 2017. Western Washington sees three players collect Second Team accolades in senior Adam Barker, junior Michael Butler and junior Cody Roth while the Saints see junior Trevor Frisby receive recognition.

2017-18 GNAC MEN'S GOLF ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Player of the Year: Chris Crisologo, Simon Fraser
Coach of the Year: Matthew Steinbach, Simon Fraser
Freshman of the Year: Brody Bonfilio, Western Washington
Newcomer of the Year: Jaxson Daskalos, Concordia