April 26, 2006

West Point, Miss. (SMU) - The SMU men's golf team rallied from a four-shot deficit on the final day by posting a 12-under 276 at the 2006 Conference USA Men's Golf Championship. SMU captured its third straight league title and earned an automatic NCAA Regional bid with the win at the par-72, 7,000-yard Old Waverly Golf Club.

SMU won conference titles as a member of the Western Athletic Conference in 2004 and 2005 and back-to-back Southwest Conference crowns in 1955 and 1956, but had never won three straight championships. SMU finished the Championship at 19-under 845, the fifth-best 54-hole team score in school history. The final-round 276 tied for the lowest team round score in C-USA Championship history.

Will Dodson won the individual title for the second straight year, having won the WAC Championship in 2005. Dodson becomes the first Mustang to repeat as conference champion since O'Hara Watts won the SWC titles in 1931 and 1932. Dodson's final-round 65 capped off a 13-under 203 (70-68-65), which is the best overall score in tournament history and the second-best 54-hole total in SMU history. Dodson's 65 was the low round of the tournament and the Tulsa, Okla., native was the only player in the field to post three rounds under par.

Also leading the way for SMU were Colt Knost and Brandon DeStefano, who each shot 69 over the final 18. Knost finished fourth at 6-under 210 (66-75-69), while DeStefano tied for ninth at 1-over 213 (70-74-69). Knost led the field with 15 birdies in the three-round tournament. Mustangs Wes Homan (73-75-73) and Scott Sikes (72-74-75) tied for 30th at 9-over 221.

With the win, SMU receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Regionals, May 18-20 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Following the final round, Knost was named first-team All-C-USA and DeStefano was a second-team selection. Knost and Dodson both earned All-Tournament honors.

For complete final results, click here.

Final Team Standings
1.  SMU            278-291-276 = 845 (-19)2.  UCF            288-283-280 = 851 (-13)3.  Tulsa          285-287-281 = 853 (-11)4.  Memphis        276-289-291 = 856 (-8)5.  Houston        285-280-300 = 865 (+1)6.  UAB            286-291-292 = 869 (+5)7.  Rice           286-295-295 = 876 (+12)    East Carolina  296-297-283 = 876 (+12)9.  Southern Miss  292-291-294 = 877 (+13)10. Marshall       302-297-288 = 887 (+23)11. UTEP           291-311-294 = 896 (+32)12. Tulane         308-315-314 = 937 (+73)
All-Conference USA First TeamKevin Fortin-Simard, MemphisPablo Acuna, HoustonSam Korbe, TulsaGarrett Osborn, UABColt Knost, SMU
All-Conference USA Second TeamRicky Ramano, HoustonParker LaBarge, RiceBrandon DeStefano, SMUJustin Elliott, Southern MissMitch Cohlmia, Tulsa