GCAA/Golf Pride Grips All-Region Teams

NORMAN, Okla. – On the heels of a banner season, Drew University Men's Golf Head Coach Lucas Artigliere C'23 has been selected as the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA)/NCAA Division III Golf Pride Grips Region III Coach of the Year.
 
Artigliere becomes Drew's first-ever regional coach of the year in the nine-year history of the Ranger men's and women's golf programs, as well as the first regional coach of the year in Landmark Conference history since the conference began sponsoring the sport in 2017-18.
 
The Rangers capped the year with a 15th-place showing at the NCAA Division III Championships last month in Florida, marking the top finish at the national event in the history of Drew golf. They became the first team in Drew or Landmark Conference history to make the final cut at the NCAA Golf Championships and finished with a 72-hole score of 1183 (291-292-307-294). Individually, senior Elliot Parker posted the top finish in team history at the event, finishing in a tie for seventh place and just six strokes behind the individual champion.
 
The Rangers earned a spot in the national event by winning their second straight Landmark Conference title, as they cruised to a 25-stroke victory with a 584, capped by a school-record, 5-under-par 283 in the second and final round. The team posted the lowest scores in Landmark Conference Championship history for both 18 and 36 holes, and all five of Drew's starters earned All-Landmark Conference honors by virtue of their finishes at the championship. Parker led the way as the medalist, winning by six strokes with a 6-under 138 (72-66), and Artigliere and his staff were honored as the Landmark Conference Coaching Staff of the Year.
 
"It is a great honor to be recognized as Regional Coach of the Year," said Artigliere. "This award is a reflection of the commitment and hard work of our players and coaching staff. Our team bought into our vision from day one, and winning back-to-back conference championships while finishing 15th in the nation made this a truly special season. I am grateful to share this recognition with everyone who played a role in our success."
 
Throughout the season, the Rangers won six events, with the primary team winning its last three prior to the NCAA Championships. Among the squad's most impressive performances was its victory at the prestigious Camp Lejeune Intercollegiate on April 10-12, as the Rangers defeated a number of nationally-ranked teams, including then-No. 10 Oglethorpe.
 
For the year, Drew averaged a school-record 293.8 per round – over three strokes better than the team's previous record set last season. The Rangers finished the season ranked No. 41 in the final Clippd Division III rankings.
 
Individually, in addition to the team's Landmark Conference accolades, Parker, junior Avery Cohen, and sophomore Sam Dolan all captured a spot on the GCAA/PING All-Region III Team. The GCAA All-America Team will be announced later this month.