The McNeese State University Cowboys with the SLC championship trophy.

Duncan McNeill helps McNeese State win first 

Conference title since 1979

  NEWS RELEASE

McKINNEY, Texas – The good old days appear to be back for the 

McNeese State University men's golf team - the "Cowboys".

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For the first time since 1979 when the Cowboys won their third of three straight Southland Conference championships, the squad returned to its glory  at Stonebridge Ranch Country Club , McKinney, Texas on Tuesday to hoist the league title trophy for the first time in 36 years.
And on top of that, senior year student  Martin Eriksson became the first McNeese individual in that same 36-year span to take top individual honours in dominating fashion with a 7-under, three-round total of 209 to win by seven strokes over a longish course of 7,219yd with a par of 72.
 "It was a fun week," said fourth-year head coach Austin Burk whose team missed out on the title by two strokes last season. "The guys responded when they had to."
Did they ever.
After starting the final round in first place then jumping to a commanding 11-stroke lead through the first four holes, the team didn't so much slump as defending champions Sam Houston State started to streak.
With nine holes remaining, the Cowboys' lead had slipped to a two stroke lead over the Bearkats.

However the back nine was a lot kinder to the No. 1 team in the league as Eriksson posted birdies on holes 13 and 15, freshman Duncan McNeill, pictured right,  from Annan  birdied 13 and  Ian Berrigan birdied 15 to help widen the gap once again to nine strokes.
That allowed the Cowboys to widen the gap back to a nine stroke lead with four holes left and even though Eriksson bogeyed on 17 and 18, the title was already in hand.
McNeese finished with a three-round score of 877 to beat out Southeastern Louisiana University, whose team included Scots Lawrence Allan and Eamon Bradley, by seven strokes.

 The Lions edged past Sam Houston State over the final holes to take the runner-up spot by one stroke.
"This golf course doesn't forgive you but we played good enough golf overall to win," said Burk. "Martin put us on his back this week and carried us. I'm very happy to see him run away with the individual title.
"This team is made up of a special group of players, not only to me personally but to McNeese as well. We are going to enjoy this one for a few days then get back to work and prepare for the regionals."
Duncan McNeill tied for 13^th on the individual leaderboard with a 6-over 222 (76-72-74)

Lawrence Allan (SE Louisiana) from Alva finished T7 on 219 (72-73-74) and team-mate Eamon Bradley from Mt Ellen finished T36 on 230 with rounds of 78, 74 and 78.