Transylvania Claims Third Straight HCAC Men's Golf Championship

NORTH BEND, OH - Transylvania University's Bradley Sutherland (Cadiz, Ky./Trigg Co.) fired a four-round score of 305 at the 2009 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Men's Golf Conference Championship at Hulman Links Golf Club in Terre Haute, Ind. and Aston Oaks Golf Club in North Bend, Ohio to lead the Pioneers to their third straight HCAC Men's Golf title. Transylvania tallied a team-score of 1,233, holding off second place Franklin 's total of 1,270.

Sutherland shot a first-round 77 and returned in the final three rounds to shoot a 79, 77, and 72. He earned medalist honors at the tournament for the second consecutive year and has been named the 2009 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player. Sutherland finished four strokes ahead of his teammate James Dawson (Bardstown, Ky. / Bethlehem ) and Eric Whitaker (Coatesville, Ind. /North Putnam) of Franklin .

Dawson was named the conference's Freshman of the Year after his second place finish.

Transylvania received outstanding outings from all five of their golfers, placing all in the top eight. Matthew Martin (Wincheste , Ky. /George Rogers Clark ) finished eight shots back of Sutherland with a 313 with Eli Glass (Metropolis, Ill./Massac Co.) finishing sixth with a total of 315.

Sutherland, Dawson, Whitaker, Martin, and Glass all earned All-HCAC recognition. Joining the group on the All-HCAC team are Transylvania University 's Greg Turcotte (Sr., West Bloomfield , Mich. ) , Franklin College 's Justin Ridge (Jr., Sullivan , Ind. /H.S.) and Anderson University's Tyler Daniels (Sr., Clayton , Ohio /Northmont) .

Franklin finished second behind the Pioneers with a team score of 1,270. Mount St. Joseph placed third as a team with a total of 1,301. Anderson tallied 1,303 team points for fourth place and was trailed by Rose-Hulman (1,305), Manchester (1,338), Hanover (1,364), and Defiance (1,387).

Transylvania head coach Brian Lane was also honored by the HCAC and named Coach of the Year. Lane earned the honor for the third time after leading the Pioneers to their third straight HCAC men's golf championship.