April 16, 2008

San Bruno, CA - Following the conclusion of the 2008 West Coast Conference golf championships, where Saint Mary's finished second, head coach Scott Hardy was named the Tri-Coach of the Year for the fifth time in his eight seasons. Seniors Chadd Cocco and Mike McRae were First Team All-WCC selections and senior Josh Kelley garnered honorable mention recognition.

The Gaels are in coming to the end of what many consider the best season for the Saint Mary's golf team. Head coach Scott Hardy, who won his fifth WCC Coach of the Year award in seven years, has guided the Gaels to a No. 40 national ranking, and on the verge of making the program's second ever NCAA Tournament appearance. The first came in 2005 with Hardy leading the charges.

This season, the Gaels have played in 10 tournaments and have collected eight top-4 finishes. In their last three events, SMC won the prestigious Western Intercollegiate at Pasatiempo, finished second at the CU-Stevinson Ranch Invite, and tied for second at the WCC Championships. Following the WCC Championship, the three seniors for SMC were named to the all-conference team, as Cocco and McRae were first team selections, and Kelley earned honorable mention recognition.

Mike McRae earned his fourth straight 1st Team All-WCC honor.

McRae has been the leader for the Gaels all season. He's had a great end to his senior season, posing no worse than a sixth place individual finish in the five spring events. After a sixth at the Callaway Invite, McRae posted three straight second place finishes at the Pinehurst Intercollegiate, the Western Intercollegiate, and CU-Stevinson Ranch Invite, and finished tied for fifth at the WCC Championships, two shots back of the leaders.

This season in 10 events and 30 rounds, McRae leads the team with a stroke average of 71.7, which currently ranks 36th in the country. According to GolfStat, McRae is the nation's 67th ranked player and in the Golf World college rankings, he is currently ranked 85th overall. In 10 events, he has finished in the top-10 seven times and the top-20 eight times. McRae shot a career-low 65 at the Allister Mackenzie Invite, which ranks as the second lowest round in school history.

Chadd Cocco finished tied for 1st at the 2008 WCC Championships.

Chadd Cocco earned his fourth First Team All-WCC selection after redshirting the 2006-07 season. Cocco returned to the line-up and posted a senior stroke average of 72.57, which currently ranks 123 overall in the country. Cocco finished tied for first in the WCC Championships, after shooting a 1-under par 71 in the final round. He is currently playing his best golf of the season, as he has posted a second and first in his last two tournaments, respectively. He is tied for the team best with six rounds in the 60s, and has 12 of 30 rounds under par.

Josh Kelley has played in every tournament this season, and every tournament in his four-year career. This season the senior has a career-low 73.2 stroke average. Kelley posted a 14th place finish at the WCC Championships following rounds of 75-73-78. His best finish of the season came at the 2008 Callaway Golf Invitational when he finished second overall at 212 (-4). He had a third place finish at the Xavier Fall Invitational, when he shot a career-low 205 (-11).

2008 Golf All-West Coast Conference Selections
Freshman of the Year - Andrew Putnam, Pepperdine

Tri-Coach of the Year
Scott Hardy (Saint Mary's), Tim Mickleson (San Diego), Bill Winter (Portland)

Individual Medalist - Jake Yount, San Diego

All-WCC First Team
Chadd Cocco, Saint Mary's
Chris Cunningham, San Francisco
Jason D'Amore, Loyola Marymount
Darrin Hall, San Diego
Brian Locke, Loyola Marymount
Terrence Macatangay, Portland
Mike McRae, Saint Mary's
Andrew Putnam, Pepperdine
Scott Travers, Santa Clara
Jake Yount, San Diego

All-WCC Honorable Mention
Jesse Barnsley (Pepperdine), Jonathan Keane (Santa Clara), Josh Kelley (Saint Mary's), Trevor Loe (Gonzaga), Bryan Martin (Loyola Marymount), Carl Smith (Pepperdine), Dale Smith (San Diego), Justin Smithhisler (Portland), Andrew Widmar (Pepperdine)