Under the radar for most of the year, the Bushnell University men's golf team pulled off the improbable in 2021, claiming the Cascade Collegiate Conference regular season championship for the first time in school history.
 
Traditionally scored using a total stroke count throughout the four-tournament CCC season, the coaches changed formats for the 2020-2021 year, instead using a Win-Loss record based on placement in each of the conference tournaments.
 
Bushnell University took full advantage and finished with a record of 19.5-4.5, beating our Multnomah University (19-5) for the regular season title by just a half point.
 
In the season opener at the Oregon Tech Invitational, the Beacons erased a three-shot deficit to Multnomah on the final day of play, jumping into a second-place tie with the Lions. Oregon Tech won their own event by 21 strokes which, in a different year, would have put them at a huge advantage for the CCC crown moving forward.
 
Next up was the LC State Invitational, hosted by the newest Cascade Collegiate Conference member. Another sensational third-round performance helped the Beacons leap from sixth place to once again finish second. Oregon Tech again finished first while Multnomah and The College of Idaho tied for third.
 
Individually, senior Jon Holzgang made a splash with a tournament low four-under 68 in the final round, taking second place and establishing himself as a contender for the CCC Player of the Year honor he would go on to win.
 
Thoughts of a potential regular-season team title crept in during the third tournament as it was Bushnell's turn to host at their home course. The Beacons took full advantage of the friendly confines of Emerald Valley Golf Club, claiming a decisive 24-stroke win to jump into first place in the CCC standings.
 
Bushnell led wire-to-wire and closed out the event in signature fashion, hitting a tourney-best 298 in the final round. Multnomah took second place, followed by Corban University in third and the College of Idaho in fourth. The CCC-leading Owls finished tied for fifth place, allowing for the major shift in the season standings.
 
It was another strong individual tournament as well for the Beacons who had three players land in the top-five. Leading the way once again was Holzgang, winning his first ever tournament medal as he scored a 69 in round three to finish with a one-shot victory.
 
As had been the case all season, the final event and Bushnell's championship came down to the third and final round at the CCC Championship tournament hosted by College of Idaho. After two rounds, the Beacons sat in fourth place and were in danger of slipping out of the top spot for the season.
 
Another strong finish pushed Bushnell into third-place, and they were able to cling to the regular-season title over Multnomah, who won the final tourney to qualify for the NAIA championship.
 
Holzgang also needed some more Round Three magic to claim the CCC Player of the Year honor. Trailing by one shot heading into the last round, the senior shot a 2-under 70 over the final 18 holes to jump back to the top of the season leader board. History was made for Bushnell as Holzgang becomes the fourth Beacon to ever win Player of the Year honors from the Cascade Collegiate Conference. Former member Concordia University had three players of the year while Corban University and Oregon Tech have had two apiece.
 
"I am so proud to be part of this team and proud that we finished strong to win the season CCC Championship," said Holzgang. "It was great to finish on a high note by winning Player of the Year. It was exciting to see success and go out with a bang. We had such a great year of memories and obstacles and I will forever be thankful for this team and what we have accomplished."
 
Men's golf becomes just the third Bushnell men's team to win a CCC regular season championship, joining the 2016 and 2017 men's basketball teams.
 
"We learned a lot about who we and who we are becoming," said Coach Watts. "I am so proud of this teams work ethic and, more importantly, the bond this team shares. We have had a memorable spring season, starting with our victory over Multnomah at Bandon Dunes and ending with a conference championship. This was just a fun group of young men who are learning to become champs on and off the course."

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