NAVARRE, Fla. - For the first time in Conference USA history, a school has won both the men's and women's golf league titles in the same season. Three days after it captured the women's crown in Hattiesburg, Miss., TCU captured the men's title with Wednesday's final round 284 at The Club at Hidden Creek. Horned Frog senior BRET GUETZ' score of 11-under par 205 set a new tournament record, and Houston's final round eight-under par 280 broke the Cougars' own league record by one stroke.

Guetz entered the championship having won C-USA's April Golfer of the Month honor for his record-setting 16-under par 200 en route to the ASU Thunderbird/Savane Invitational title. But when he arrived in Navarre, he realized the task at hand.

"I was very happy with the way I played," Guetz said. "I came off a hot week last week and just tried to stay out of my own way and see if I could do it again."

Houston's record-setting team round was fueled by SIMON ROBINSON's five-under-par 67 and Scott Ferguson's three-under-par 69. Robinson and Guetz were joined on the all-tournament team by Southern Miss' TIM YELVERTON (five-under-par 67 in the final round), East Carolina's JASON HARRIS and Saint Louis freshman EVAN FREDERICK.

UAB's GRAEME MCDOWELL, who currently holds the top individual ranking in both national collegiate polls, was named Conference USA Player of the Year for the second straight season. The Ben Hogan Award finalist joins another former Blazer, Chris Devlin, in achieving this feat. Devlin was actually a three-time winner (1997, 1999 and 2000).

Guetz, Harris, McDowell, Robinson and Yelverton were joined on the all-conference team by South Florida's RICKY CARRILLO AND TELE WIGHTMAN, TCU's ANDY DOEDEN and ADAM RUBINSON and Tulane's CHRIS WHEELER.

TCU's J.J. KILLEEN and Louisville's BRETT JONES shared Freshman of the Year honors. TCU head coach BILL MONTIGEL was named Coach of the Year, as the league championship had quite an impact on his program.

"It feels great to win the C-USA title," Montigel said. "It was a great championship, everything was first-class. I'm really excited for the guys, especially our three seniors. To go out winning this championship is special for them. Conference USA is one of the upcoming golf conferences in the country. There are a lot of good teams and a lot of parity. I'm excited to be in it."
2002 CONFERENCE USA GOLF AWARDS


Player of the Year
Graeme McDowell, UAB

Freshman of the Year (tie)
Brett Jones, Louisville, J.J. Killeen, TCU

Coach of the Year
Bill Montigel, TCU

All-Tournament Team
Tim Yelverton, Southern Miss
Jason Harris, East Carolina
Simon Robinson, Houston
Evan Frederick, Saint Louis
Bret Guetz, TCU
Tournament Champion
Bret Guetz, TCU*

All-Conference Team
Ricky Carrillo, South Florida
Andy Doeden, TCU
Bret Guetz, TCU
Jason Harris, East Carolina
Graeme McDowell, UAB
Simon Robinson, Houston
Adam Rubinson, TCU
Chris Wheeler, Tulane
Tele Wightman, South Florida
Tim Yelverton, Southern Miss