Freshman golfer Ryan Camras was named 2019 Great American Conference Men’s Golf Freshman of the Year. The team has had a tougher season in terms of scores but has shown potential for next season already with the recognition of Camras named GAC freshman.

Coach Dustin Howell said it is important to celebrate successes over the season even though the team will not be making the postseason after two years in a row. Howell said Camras is the fifth freshman during his time of coaching to be named GAC Freshman of the Year. Camras had four top 10 and three top five.

“Ryan was the best freshman of the entire conference,” Howell said. “It’sa high honor. We’ve had only a few in my 10 years of coaching.”

Camras said the reward is just the start of what hard work will achieve.

“I’m most proud of the progress that I’ve made in my overall game from mental, to putting, short game and full swing,” Camras said. “They all have gotten so much better throughout the season. In the future I would like to keep working extremely hard to continue improving in each aspect of my game.”

Camras’ teammate, sophomore Trevor Mellott is supportive of this honor and said Camras deserves every bit of it.

“He’s worked super hard day in and day out, whether it be on the course or in the golf room,” Mellott said. “He’s a great player with a bright future and he will be a top-10 player in the region next year. He’s led the team and it shows how good of a leader he is by stepping up as a true freshman.”

Mellott also said the tough season has been a developing year that has overall brought many positive takeaways.

“We may not have produced the best scores but we played against [many] tough teams and we hung tough every tournament,” Mellott said.

In regard to the team, Howell said this season is the building block for next year and he is confident for the success of the future. Camras also said he is looking forward to next year and seeing how the team’s young talent develops.

“I think next season is looking very good for our team because for the most part we are a young team that needs to mature in competition golf,” Camras said. “With a more rigorous practice routine and better work ethic, we will have a great season next year.”