Hitting the Greens
The South Mountain Community College men’s golf team, led by Coach Jake Harrington, has proven itself to be the best team in the West and arguably the best team in the country.
Under Coach Harrington’s tenure, which started in 2007, the Cougars have transferred 18 student-athletes on to play at NCAA schools, won 33-tournaments, the NJCAA Division II National Championship in 2010 and 2012, the NJCAA Region I Championship in 2009, 2010, and 2012, the ACCAC Conference Championship in 2009, 2011, and 2012. In addition, they have been recognized with 17 All-Conference Players, 20 All-Region Players, 22 PING All-Region Players, 14 NJCAA All-Americans, 18 PING All-Americans, 2 Phil Mickelson Award Winners (award for the best freshman in the country), 1 Jack Nicklaus Award Winner (award for the best overall player in the country), and won the GCAA Academic National Championship in 2010, 2011, and 2012.
The Men’s Golf Team continues to excel at the National Championship each year with National Runner-Up finishes in 2003, 2007, and 2011 along with a third place finish in 2009 to go along with the three NJCAA National Championships in 2004, 2010, and 2012.
In 2012, the Cougars finished the best season in school history by winning their third NJCAA National Championship by a convincing 31-shot margin. During the 2011-2012 season they won 10 out of 13 tournaments with an average margin of victory of 20.5 shots. The 10 victories included the national preview, The Cactus Thaw (an NCAA Division II event), 5 conference events, the ACCAC Conference Championship, the NJCAA Region I Championship (won by 41-shots over a field that had 2 other teams ranked in the top 10 in the country), and the NJCAA Division II National Championship (won by 31-shots) giving SMCC Men’s Golf our second national championship in the past 3 years and our third national championship in the last 8 years.
2013 National Champions!
May 24, 2013
The South Mountain Community College Men’s Golf Team has done it…BACK-TO-BACK National Champions!!! I am happy to inform you that our Men’s Golf Team here at South Mountain Community College brought back the 2013 National Championship Trophy with a very convincing 32-stroke victory! That makes 4 National Championships in total for the Cougars and 3 of the last 4 National Championships (2010, 2012, and 2013). More»
In 2011, the Cougars won 7 out of 13 events, which included a sweep of all 6 ACCAC Conference tournaments to clinch the 2011 ACCAC Conference Championship. In, addition, they also finished as the National Runner-Up in the NJCAA National Championships in Scottsboro, AL.
In 2010, the Cougars clinched their second NJCAA National Championship and first under Coach Jake Harrington with a convincing 10-shot victory at Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, Arizona. During the season they also won 8 out of 13 tournaments which included winning 3 out of 6 conference tournaments, the NJCAA Region I Championship by 13 shots, and winning the 2010 NJCAA Division II National Championship.
In 2009, the Cougars ended the season winning 8 out of 13 tournaments with 5 of those victories being by double-digit margins, winning the ACCAC Conference Championship for the first time in school history after winning 5 of the 6 conference tournaments, won the NJCAA Region I Championship by 32 shots, and finishing 3rd at the NJCAA Division II National Championship.
The 2012-2013 team is expected to continue to raise the bar, being led by Jake Argento who was the Phil Mickelson Award Winner as well as an All-American, Marley Sweeney who was an All-American as well as a member of the All-Freshman team, and Ben Seward who was a member of the All-Freshman Team. In total there are 6 sophomores returning from last year’s national championship team, which was ranked #1 in the nation on the GolfWorld/Nike Golf Coaches’, Golfstat, and NJCAA polls throughout the entire year, and they are accompanied by a strong freshman class who is out to prove they are the best in the nation.
The team competes in tournaments all year long and competes in Conference play in February, March, and April, with Regional and National Championships occurring in May.
Check back frequently for updated news, schedules and special events. We look forward to seeing you on the course.
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Argento and Cougars Win Region Championship (April 28, 2013)
Cougars Shoot 17-Under, Win Pima Invitational ACCAC Championship (April 15, 2013)
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