Story posted on March 16, 2016

McKINNEY, Texas – The good ol days appear to be back for the McNeese Cowboys golf team.

 
For the first time since 1979 when the Cowboys won their third of three straight Southland Conference championships, the squad returned to its glory on Tuesday to hoist the league title trophy for the first time in 36 years.
 
And on top of that, senior Martin Eriksson became the first McNeese individual in that same 36-year span to take top honors in dominating fashion with a 7-under, three-round total of 209 to win by seven strokes.
 
"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 champion 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, Duncan McNeill on 13 and Ian Berrigan on 15 to help widen the gap once again while SHSU was struggling through a back nine containing 18 bogeys, a double bogey and just two birdies.
 
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 by seven strokes. The Lions edged past SHSU in the final holes to take the runner-up spot by one stroke. Lamar was fourth with an 866 and Stephen F. Austin at 893 to round out the top five.
 
"This golf course doesn't forgive you but we played good enough 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."
 
McNeill tied for 13^th on the individual leaderboard with a 6-over 222 after shooting a 74 on Tuesday. Andreas Krokeide and Ian Berrigan tied for 24^th at 11-over, Krokeide hitting a 78 in the final round as Berrigan scored an 80. And Blake Elliott finished 28^th with at 12-over and shot a 76 on the day.
 
James Anstiss of SLU and Andrew Ertel of SHSU tied for second behind Eriksson with an even par 216.
 
The Cowboys will learn their destination for the NCAA Regionals in the coming days.
 
2016 Southland Conference Men's Golf Tournament
Stonebridge Ranch Country Club – Dye Course
Par 72 – 7219 Yards
McKinney, Texas
 
Final Team Leaderboard: 1, McNeese 297-282-298 – 877; 2, Southeastern Louisiana 287-303-294 – 884; 3, Sam Houston State 297-295-293 – 885; 4, Lamar 304-290-292 – 886; 5, Stephen F. Austin 300-304-289 – 893; 6, Abilene Christian 289-314-299 – 902; 7, New Orleans 297-311-295 – 903; 8, Incarnate Word 299-306-300 – 905; 9, Central Arkansas 310-296-300 – 906; 10, Houston Baptist 315-298-303 – 916; 11, Nicholls 309-303-311 – 923.
 
McNeese Individuals: 1, Martin Eriksson 70-69-70 – 209 (-7); T13, Duncan McNeill 76-72-74 – 222 (+6); T24, Andreas Krokeide 78-71-78 – 227 (+11); T24, Ian Berrigan 77-70-80 – 227 (+11); T28, Blake Elliott 74-78-76 – 228 (+12).
 
SLC Individual Top 10:
1, Martin Eriksson, McNeese      -7
T2, James Anstiss, SLU             E
T2, Andrew Ertel, SHSU             E
4, Mans Berglund, Lamar            +1
T5, Markus Krieger, UNO           +2
T5, Jake McCrory, SHSU          +2
T7, Angelo Leyvani, SFA            +3
T7, Lawrence Allan, SLU            +3
T9, Austin Wylie, UIW                +5
T9, Rodrigo Rivas, UCA             +5
T9, Garrett Glanton, ACU            +5
T9, Eason Wang, Lamar              +5