South Mountain Community College won eighth NJCAA Div. II men’s golf championship

The Cougars were runner-up last year. It’s the program’s first title since 2019.

South Mountain Community College, located in Phoenix, won its eighth NJCAA Div. II men’s golf championship Friday at Twin Hills Golf and Country Club in Joplin, Missouri.

The Cougars finished strong, posting a 5-over team score on the final day to finish at 31 over. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (Perkinston, Mississippi) and Tyler Junior College (Tyler, Texas) finished tied for second at 50 over. Parkland College (Champaign, Illinois) was fourth at 56 over, Kirkwood CC (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) was fifth at 59 over and Glendale Community College (Glendale, Arizona) came in sixth at 60 over.

South Mountain last won the national title in 2019. There was no championship in 2020 due the COVID pandemic. In 2021, the Cougars finished second. SMCC also took home the trophy in 2004, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016.

South Mountain’s Cecil Belisle led the way for the Cougars. He posted scores of 71-71-72-74 to win medalist honors for the second year in a row. Matthew Creighton of Glendale Community College shot 69-73-73-78 to finish tied for fourth.

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