The 2016 Saint Leo Men’s Golf team captured the NCAA Division II
National Championship, earning the first NCAA team championship in
Saint Leo University history and becoming the fourth team inducted into
the Saint Leo Athletic Hall of Fame. The Lions set NCAA Championship
stroke play records, posting the lowest team score relative to par after
both 36 and 54 holes, and advanced as the number one seed before
excelling in match play at the NCAA Championships in Denver,
Colorado.
Freshman Hugo Bernard delivered one of the most notable individual
seasons in NCAA Division II history, winning the 2016 NCAA Division II
Individual National Championship at 13-under par (203). Bernard
became the first national champion, team or individual, in Saint Leo
history. His freshman campaign included DII PING First Team AllAmerica honors, the Arnold Palmer Award, and the Phil Mickelson
Outstanding Freshman Award. Bernard broke multiple NCAA
Championship scoring records, including the lowest two-round score
(13-under) and the lowest three-round score (13-under), and became
one of 17 individuals in NCAA history to win an individual national title
while also leading his team to a national championship.
The team secured the championship when Griffin Clark holed the
decisive putt in match play, a moment that remains central to Saint Leo
Athletics history. In the months that followed, his contribution took on
added significance for the Saint Leo community.
Seven members of the team — Liam Ainsworth, Joey Savoie, Ryan
Gendron, Casey Bannon, James Jessop, Collin Warren, and CJ Tyler —
were named GCAA All-American Scholars. Four players earned GCAA
All-American recognition — Hugo Bernard; Liam Ainsworth; Joey Savoie
twice; and Ryan Gendron three times. Joey Savoie was also selected as a
CoSIDA Academic All-American.
Induction class:
Dr. Cisco L. Johnson
Jonathan Glenn
Marcus Dewberry
Jake Gilmour
