ROCK HILL, SC – Carson-Newman College’s Matthrew Cram-Smith, who helped lead the Eagles to a No. 10 national ranking, was named the South Atlantic Conference Men’s Golf Player of the Year for the second year in a row at Monday night’s SAC Men’s Golf Awards Banquet at the Regent Park Golf Club in Fort Mill, S.C.

Cram-Smith averaged 74.5 strokes per round. He shot a second-day 68 to win the Richard Rendleman Invitational, and finished second at the AFLAC Cougar Invitational.

Cram-Smith also received the Hargett Award, presented by the South Atlantic Conference men’s golf coaches to one player who exemplifies such character traits as hard work and a love of the game.

The SAC Men’s Golf Freshman of the Year is Patrick Townes of Presbyterian College. Townes has a stroke average of 77.27, third best on his team. His best finish was fourth place at the Outback Intercollegiate and his best round was a 71 at the North Shore Pfeiffer Intercollegiate.

Carson-Newman College coach John Minor was recognized as Men’s Golf Coach of the Year after leading the Eagles to four top-two finishes and seven top-5 finishes in 10 events. He has guided his team to a number 10 national ranking.

Presbyterian College’s Thomas Cameron was presented the South Atlantic Conference Scholar Athlete Award for the second year in a row. The award is presented to one athlete from each of the conference's 14 sport programs and represents a combination of athletic skill, academic achievement and participation in community service and leadership.

Cameron has a 3.69 GPA as a senior Business Administration and Math major. He is a member of the Order of Omega Honor Society, Sigma Kappa Honor Society and the Omicron Delta Kappa Academic and Leadership Honor Socitety.

He has been on the SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll seven times, the Dean’s List six times and the President’s List for having a 4.0 once. He was a 2003 Golf Coaches Association Academic All-American.

On the course, Cameron is a four-year letterwinner for the Blue Hose golf team, where he helped his team to three SAC Tournament championships. He averaged 77.73 strokes per round, with a season low score of 72 in the North Shore Pfeiffer Intercollegiate. His best individual finish was 15th in the AFLAC Cougar Invitational.

In the community, Cameron is an Eagle scout, and continues to work with his local scout troop in the summer. He is active at First United Methodist Church in Clover, serving as usher and Sunday School president and treasurer. He also serves as treasurer, rush chair and constitution committee chair for his fraternity, Alpha Sigma Phi.

The Men’s Golf Tournament is the first event of the 2004 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Spring Sports Festival, which will take place over the next week in Rock Hill, S.C. and York County. The men’s golf will play 36 holes of competition on Tuesday, with an 8 a.m. shotgun start. The third and final round will take place Wednesday, with tee offs being at 8 a.m.

2004 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE MEN’S GOLF AWARD WINNERS

COACH OF THE YEAR – John Minor, Carson-Newman

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Patrick Townes, Presbyterian

PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Matthew Cram-Smith, Carson-Newman

SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Thomas Cameron, Presbyterian

SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE SENIOR AWARDS

Carson-Newman College
Matthew Cram-Smith

Catawba College
Dan Aycock
Elliott Keller

Lenoir-Rhyne College
Jason Mosser

Mars Hill College
Brian Carlstrom,
Gavin Williams

Newberry College
Thomas Lever

Presbyterian College
Thomas Cameron
Gavin Gillespie
Patrick Mitchell

Tusculum College
Brent Dyson
Russell Eatly
Justin Jeffers

Wingate University
Neil Blot
Bryan Dillon