Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Savoie, Saulo, Thomas honored by C-USA
5/4/2017 10:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Savoie makes first team; Saulo freshman of year
MURFREESBORO – Senior golfer Joey Savoie and freshman Ilari Saulo came away as big winners when Conference USA announced its all-league team on Thursday.
Savoie, a native of Quebec, Canada, was selected to the five-man First Team All-Conference USA squad, while Saulo was voted the C-USA Freshman of the Year. Saulo and Chip Thomas were also put on the five-man All-Freshman team.
Savoie, playing his first and only season with the Blue Raiders, led the team with a 71.7 stroke average to go with 21 of 33 rounds at par or better. He was also a member of the C-USA All-Academic team and once earned league player of the week honors.
"Joey has made as big an impact for such a brief time as I can ever recall as a coach," said Head Coach Brennan Webb. "Obviously his on-course performance has been outstanding but he has had just as big of an influence off the course. When he decided to transfer, we talked about what kind of impact he could have on the program, not just this year, but long after he leaves. He has shown all of us the necessary work ethic and dedication required to succeed at the highest levels which will be beneficial to this program for many years to come."
Saulo, out of Helsinki, Finland, was second on the team with a 72.5 stroke average and was the only Raider to win an event in 2016-17. Saulo earned low medalist honors at the Quail Valley Collegiate Invitational in October. He also earned player of the week honors on one occasion.
Thomas, from Knoxville, showed a lot of consistency in his first year of collegiate golf. He was fourth on the team with a 73.5 stroke average to go with 10 rounds of par or better. Thomas twice earned league player of the week honors.
"Ilari and Chip have both come in and played every tournament as freshmen on an excellent team," added Webb. "That says a lot about their talent level and I know that they will provide an outstanding foundation for the next several years.
"Ilari has shown that he is one of the best players in the league early in his career and I know as he gains more experience to match his incredible talent he will become one of the top players in the country."
The Blue Raiders are now preparing for the NCAA Regionals which will be the programs eighth all-time appearance and first under Webb.
2016-17 CONFERENCE USA MEN'S GOLF AWARDS
Golfer of the Year: Frederik Dreier, UTEP
Freshman of the Year: Ilari Saulo, Middle Tennessee
Coach of the Year: Scott Lieberwirth, UTEP
First Team
Joey Savoie, Middle Tennessee
Ian Snyman, North Texas
R.J. Keur, UAB
Frederik Dreier, UTEP
Aaron Terrazas, UTEP
Second Team
Cory Churchman, North Texas
Thomas Rosenmueller, North Texas
Taylor Eyster, UAB
Charles Corner, UTEP
Zander Lozano, UTSA
All-Freshman Team
John Gough, Charlotte
Matty Lamb, Charlotte
Conor Purcell, Charlotte
Ilari Saulo, Middle Tennessee
Chip Thomas, Middle Tennessee
Savoie, a native of Quebec, Canada, was selected to the five-man First Team All-Conference USA squad, while Saulo was voted the C-USA Freshman of the Year. Saulo and Chip Thomas were also put on the five-man All-Freshman team.
Savoie, playing his first and only season with the Blue Raiders, led the team with a 71.7 stroke average to go with 21 of 33 rounds at par or better. He was also a member of the C-USA All-Academic team and once earned league player of the week honors.
"Joey has made as big an impact for such a brief time as I can ever recall as a coach," said Head Coach Brennan Webb. "Obviously his on-course performance has been outstanding but he has had just as big of an influence off the course. When he decided to transfer, we talked about what kind of impact he could have on the program, not just this year, but long after he leaves. He has shown all of us the necessary work ethic and dedication required to succeed at the highest levels which will be beneficial to this program for many years to come."
Saulo, out of Helsinki, Finland, was second on the team with a 72.5 stroke average and was the only Raider to win an event in 2016-17. Saulo earned low medalist honors at the Quail Valley Collegiate Invitational in October. He also earned player of the week honors on one occasion.
Thomas, from Knoxville, showed a lot of consistency in his first year of collegiate golf. He was fourth on the team with a 73.5 stroke average to go with 10 rounds of par or better. Thomas twice earned league player of the week honors.
"Ilari and Chip have both come in and played every tournament as freshmen on an excellent team," added Webb. "That says a lot about their talent level and I know that they will provide an outstanding foundation for the next several years.
"Ilari has shown that he is one of the best players in the league early in his career and I know as he gains more experience to match his incredible talent he will become one of the top players in the country."
The Blue Raiders are now preparing for the NCAA Regionals which will be the programs eighth all-time appearance and first under Webb.
2016-17 CONFERENCE USA MEN'S GOLF AWARDS
Golfer of the Year: Frederik Dreier, UTEP
Freshman of the Year: Ilari Saulo, Middle Tennessee
Coach of the Year: Scott Lieberwirth, UTEP
First Team
Joey Savoie, Middle Tennessee
Ian Snyman, North Texas
R.J. Keur, UAB
Frederik Dreier, UTEP
Aaron Terrazas, UTEP
Second Team
Cory Churchman, North Texas
Thomas Rosenmueller, North Texas
Taylor Eyster, UAB
Charles Corner, UTEP
Zander Lozano, UTSA
All-Freshman Team
John Gough, Charlotte
Matty Lamb, Charlotte
Conor Purcell, Charlotte
Ilari Saulo, Middle Tennessee
Chip Thomas, Middle Tennessee
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