Dillon Dean Wins 2024 NJCAA Division II Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award
PHOENIX ---
Dillon Dean of the South Mountain Community College men's golf team received the 2024 NJCAA Division II Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award presented by StrackaLine, the Golf Coaches Association of America announced on May 20. Dean won five times throughout the 2023-24 campaign as he and the Cougars begin play at the 2024 NJCAA Division II National Championships at Twin Hills Golf & Country Club in Joplin, Mo.
Dean has had an outstanding campaign on the links for SMCC. He earned the GCAA March and April 2024 NJCAA Division II SwingU College Player of the Month award.
Dean has won or tied for individual medalist honors in the spring four times.
He claimed individual medalist honors at 3-under 141 and was the only competitor to finish under par at the Mountain Lion Spring Invitational, hosted by Estrella Mountain CC at Sundance Golf Course in Buckeye, Ariz., on Mar. 8-9. After posting five birdies, Dean found himself one stroke off the pace after 18 holes at 1-under 71. In his second round, he posted another five birdies and went 2-under over the final nine holes to claim the tournament title.
Dean was among four competitors to tie for first at 3-under 139 at the Gaucho Spring Shootout Invitational on Mar. 17-18 at Tres Rios Golf Course in Goodyear, Ariz. Dean had four birdies in his first round, three in his second, and an eagle three on the 36th hole of the tournament. He opened with a 1-under 70 and then recorded a 2-under 69 in his second round.
That momentum carried over into early April as well, when Dean won the Cougars Spring Invitational, which was held April 2-3 at Aguila Golf Course in Laveen, Ariz. He won his third straight event with a score of 12-under 132, including a 10-under 62 in his second round.
Dean's performance was nothing short of spectacular. He started with an eagle three on the second and followed it up with eight birdies over the next 16 holes, securing the individual medalist honors with a comfortable six-stroke lead. His first round was equally impressive, with an eagle two on No. 8 and a strong finish with four birdies over the final five holes.
Finally, Dean won individual medalist honors at 1-under 283 to defeat CGCC's Jaden McCloud by four strokes at the ACCAC Division II Region 1 Championships held at Ocotillo Golf Course in Chandler, Ariz., from April 22-25.
Dean finished under par in three of his four rounds, posting scores of 1-under 70 in the first, second, and final rounds. He was the only competitor to finish under par for the competition, and he recorded 21 birdies over the 72 holes, including six in each of the first two rounds.
In the fall, Dean tied for individual medalist honors at -8 (136) at the Thunderbird Invitational at Dobson Ranch Golf Course in Mesa, Ariz., on Nov. 6-7.