Mason, McNicholas Earn All-Conference as Temple Places Fourth at A-10 Championship

HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, FL –  Senior Andrew Mason capped his brilliant Temple golf career with a two-under 70 to earn all-conference honors while freshman Connor McNicholas joined him on the 10-man all-conference squad  while also earning A-10 Most Outstanding Rookie Performer honors.  Mason placed fifth overall (76-74-70, 220) while McNicholas tied for seventh (73-74-76, 223) to lead Temple to a fourth place finish at the 2011 Atlantic 10 Conference Golf Championships held at the Mission Inn Resort Sunday. 

"It was a great way to end the season for the team, and a great way for Andrew to cap his incredible career," Temple head coach Brian Quinn said.  "Andrew played amazing as did Connor.  With all but Andrew returning, this bodes well for the future of Temple Golf."

Charlotte fended off final-round rallies from Xavier and Richmond to capture its league-record sixth straight A-10 Men's Golf Championship. The 49ers finished 17-over par for the 54-hole competition, including 10-over on Sunday, while Xavier battled for second-place, shooting 22-over during the three-day event. Richmond captured third-place after firing an afternoon-low of four-over par, closing out the Championship at +23 over.
 
Temple (+59), which posted its second top four finish in the last three seasons, was next, followed by Rhode Island (+64), George Washington (+76), Fordham (+89), St. Bonaventure (+92), Dayton (+99), Saint Joseph's (+107) and La Salle (+120).

McNicholas joins Jim Sullivan (1995) as the only two Temple golfers to win top rookie honors in the A-10.  Mason, who also earned all-conference honors in 2009 and 2010, is the fourth Temple player to earn all-conference honors three times, joining Hans Winkler (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995), Tom Carter (1987, 1988, 1990) and Geoff Sisk (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986). It also marks the first time Temple placed two golfers on the all-conference team since 2002.

Freshman Steve Burak (79-80-76, 235) had his best round of the tournament Sunday to finish 26th overall. Sophomore Devin Bibeau (86-83-81, 250) tied for 45th while freshman Russell Hartung (81-84-88, 253) tied for 47th to round out the Temple squad.

Xavier's Herbert Day (70-72-72) and Richmond's Nick Austin (76-67-71) shot two-under par for the Championship, finishing in a tie for the event's top spot. Day outlasted Austin in a two-hole sudden-victory playoff to claim the A-10 individual title and earn Most Outstanding Performer honors.

The Owls ended their season with six straight top five finishes.