Synan Named Eaton Pride/GCAA Southeast Region Coach Of The Year
NEWCASTLE, Northern Ireland – After leading the UNCP men's golf team to a banner season – one which included a conference championship, as well as a spot in the NCAA national championship round – head coach David Synan was awarded with Eaton Golf Pride Southeast Region Coach of the Year laurels on Saturday.
The award, presented in conjunction with the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA), is the first regional or national coaching honor for UNCP since the women's softball coaching staff captured region staff of the year honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) in 2008. Synan, a two-time Peach Belt Conference Women's Golf Coach of the Year recipient, recently completed his seventh season at the helm of the men's program in Pembroke.
The Braves exhibited their finest season in the 45-year history of the program by capturing the 2012 Peach Belt Conference Championship, finishing fourth at the NCAA South/Southeast Super Regional and, ultimately, posting a 10th place finish at the NCAA Division II National Championships at the Cardinal Club in Simpsonville, Ky. The appearance in The Bluegrass State marked the first-ever trip to the national championship round for the Black & Gold. UNCP, which boasted a pair of all-American golfers and a trio of all-PBC recipients, shattered the league record for single season stroke average (288.84) as well.
The Braves finished third or better in 10 of their 12 events this season, including wins at the Laker Collegiate, Richard Rendleman Invitational, the Magnolia Collegiate Invitational and the PBC Championships. Seniors Jordan Walor (71.4), Jonathan McCurry (72.5) and Scott Lambert (73.3) all finished among the PBC's top eight golfers in 2011-12.
Synan, a Laurinburg native and a graduate of nearby Scotland High School, played his collegiate golf at High Point and boasts personal championships at the 2010 Durham Amateur Open (-3, 69-70) and 2011 Scotland County Amateur (E, 62-77-77). Since his hiring as head golf coach at UNCP prior to the 2005-06 campaign, his men's teams have taken home eight tournament championships and the women have recorded 11 tournament victories, including the 2011 PBC Championship.
Eaton's Golf Grip Division is the world's largest manufacturer of golf grips, with manufacturing, sales and distribution facilities on five continents. The division's Golf Pride brand is recognized globally as the number one choice in grips among tour and recreational players, competitive amateur golfers, club manufacturers and club repairmen. For more information, visit www.golfpride.com.
Dave Williams Award Presented by Eaton Golf Pride
Division I - John Fields, Texas
Division II - Garrett Runion, Nova Southeastern
Division III - Jim Owen, Oglethorpe
NAIA - Kyle Blaser, Oklahoma City
NJCAA Division I - Mike Hagen, Indian Hills CC
NJCAA Division II - Jake Harrington, South Mountain CC
Eaton Golf Pride Region and District Coaches of the Year
Division I
Northeast - Rich Parker, Dartmouth
East - Jeff Thomas, Liberty
Southeast - Jay Seawell, Alabama
Midwest - Herb Page, Kent State
Central - John Fields, Texas
West - Steve Desimone, California
Division II
East - Stephan Ferrara, St. Thomas Aquinas
Atlantic - Fred Joseph, IUP
Southeast - David Synan, UNC Pembroke
South - Garrett Runion, Nova Southeastern
Midwest - Brent Nicoson, Indianapolis
South Central - Tim Poe, Central Missouri
Central - Tyler Kimble, Colorado School of Mines
West - T.L. Brown, Chico State
Division III
Northeast - Dan Wesley, Rochester
Mid-Atlantic - Bob Simms, St. John Fisher
Southeast - Jim Owen, Oglethorpe
Great Lakes - Brian Lane, Transylvania
Central - Jim Ott, Illinois Wesleyan
West - King Campbell, UT-Tyler
NAIA
North - Chris Winkle, Grand View
South - Chris Kraftick, Cumberlands
Central - Kyle Blaser, Oklahoma City
West - Brian Carbary, Victoria
NJCAA Division I
District I - Rick Rogers, Texarkana
District II - James Black, New Mexico JC
District III - Mike Hagen, Indian Hills CC
District IV - Clinton Hales, Meridian CC
NJCAA Division II
East - Bill Gardner, Walters State
Central - Tommy Snell, Mississippi Gulf Coast CCC
West - Jake Harrington, South Mountain
