Four Hawks recognized on Ping All-America teams

NORMAN, Okla. – Four Huntingdon golfers were recognized with the release of the Golf Coaches Association of America's finalized Division III Ping All-America teams on Wednesday.

Senior Addison Lambeth was announced as a first-team All-America selection in May. On Wednesday, senior Will Thrash and sophomore Stephen Shephard each earned second-team All-America honors and senior Chad Ring was named an honorable mention selection.

The second-team, third-team and honorable mention teams were released on Wednesday. The first-team was announced following the final round of the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championships.

This is the second straight year Lambeth and Thrash have been recognized. Lambeth is a two-time first-team selection. Thrash was an honorable mention selection last season.

"I'm really excited for these guys," Huntingdon Director of Golf Dave Schreyer said. "To be an All-America is very special and it shows the commitment they've made. I'm hoping their success will trickle down to teams that follow them in the coming years."

The four Huntingdon golfers helped lead the Hawks to a No. 1 ranking in Division III this past season and a tie for fourth in the NCAA National Tournament. The team's five tournament wins this season are the second most for the Hawks since joining the NCAA.

Lambeth led the group and set the Hawks' NCAA-era records for scoring average and rounds of par or better. He averaged 71.41 in 27 rounds and finished with 16 rounds of par or better. He won the Wynlakes Intercollegiate and the Emory Spring Invitational and placed in the top three in six of 10 tournaments.

Thrash averaged 73.22 in 27 rounds and shot par or better in 10 rounds. The Prattville, Ala., native won the NCAA DIII Fall Preview and the O'Briant-Jensen Memorial and placed in the top three in four events.

Shephard came on strong toward the end of the season, placing second in the USA South Athletic Conference Tournament and tying for ninth in the NCAA National Tournament. He averaged 73.57 in 23 rounds.

Ring averaged 74.33 in 27 rounds and turned in nine rounds of par or better. He finished fourth in the Gordin Classic and tied for sixth in the Wynlakes Intercollegiate.

A total of 13 golfers from the USA South Athletic Conference were recognized.

The complete All-America teams are listed below:

First Team

Jarrod Brown, Mary Hardin-Baylor

Ryan Elmore, Berry

Josh Gibson, Hope

Mats Heien, Mary Hardin-Baylor

Addison Lambeth, Huntingdon

Logan Lanier, LaGrange

Conner O'Neil, Illinois Wesleyan

David Rabil, Christopher Newport

Brandon Rougeau, UT Tyler

Second Team

Brandon Bailey, Ferrum

Stefano Butti, Emory

Levi Grogan, Greensboro

Sam Hill, UT Tyler

Matt Organisak, Emory

Stephen Shephard, Huntingdon

Sam Stilwell, Wittenberg

Will Thrash, Huntingdon

Third Team

Garrett Brickley, Wittenberg

Chris Harris, Rhodes

Davis Jensen, Methodist

Harry Nodwell, Christopher Newport

Grant Powell, Greensboro

Osborne Theam, LaGrange

George Toone, UT Tyler

George Qian, Carnegie Mellon

Honorable Mention

Adam Armstrong, Ohio Wesleyan

Jacob Arnett, Oglethorpe

Craig Decato, Methodist

Ryan Gallagher, Saint John's (MN)

Nathaniel Gray, California Lutheran

Sam Goldenring, Williams

Brady Hanson, UWEC

Josh Hill, Guilford

Seger Howell, Concordia (TX)

Brad Lankler, Franklin & Marshall

Winton Munch, Hope

Mackenzie Nelson, Skidmore

Sean O'Connor, Greensboro

Carson Riley, Centre

Chad Ring, Huntingdon

Conor Rooney, Pomona-Pitzer

Will Rosenfield, Trinity (CT)

Jonathan Shaw, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

Matt Shuman, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

Alec Spencer, La Verne

Mason Stutler, Methodist

Daulton Wickenden, Husson