By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, MAY 5, 2017 – USF's Steve Bradley was named American Athletic Conference Men's Golf Coach of the Year for the third straight season, while three Bulls earned spots on the all-conference team Friday.
Junior Cristian DiMarco was a unanimous selection to the 13-player all-conference team that includes senior Rigel Fernandes and junior Jimmy Jones. All three Bulls helped USF capture its third consecutive conference title in wire-to-wire fashion on April 25.
Bradley has received The American's coach of the year honors in each of his first three seasons with USF. The first Bull to accomplish The American's coach of the year three-peat has led USF to two tournament titles this season and 11 in his career with the program.
“It makes me feel like I've got a pretty good team and I've got a good bunch of kids. I get the accolades for it, but it starts with our guys,” Bradley said. “My assistant, Brad Caldwell, does an unbelievable job. It's recognition for what the team has accomplished and what Brad and I do on a day-in and day-out basis to try to help them be better players.”
DiMarco became one of three unanimous all-conference selections in his second season with USF after finishing as the individual runner-up at the league tournament. The Longwood, Fla., native ended the final round in a tie for first place at 1-under to force a playoff with eventual champion Michael Perras of Houston. DiMarco is the only Bull to compete in all 31 rounds this season and he leads the team with a 72.1 scoring average.
“He has come an unbelievably long way since he and I talked about him transferring to USF from Kentucky,” Bradley said. “He's come so far and that's all just a tribute to his discipline and hard work. He's just done it the right way and I'm proud of him.”
Jones is in the midst of a stellar debut season with the Bulls and most recently tied for third at the conference championship after taking a one-shot lead into the final round. The Tampa native tied for the low round at the tournament with a 68 and leads the Bulls with four top-five finishes this season.
Jones has shown amazing mental toughness, posting a 72.6 scoring average through 25 rounds while dealing with the loss of his mother. Dawn Coe Jones, a former LPGA player, lost her battle with cancer this past November.
“For Jimmy to be able to work through that and continue to develop himself on the golf course speaks volumes of the kind of young man he is,” Bradley said. “We certainly have needed his solid finishes. It goes to show you his game is good and I'm just proud of him for what he's had to deal with as a 21-year-old and where he is right now.”
Fernandes made the all-conference team for the third straight season after tying for ninth place at the conference championship. The Bradenton, Fla., native ranks second on the team with a 72.5 scoring average through 28 rounds with five top-25 finishes and a pair of top-10 performances to his credit. Fernandes is one of 73 student-athletes projected to graduate this spring, which is USF Athletics' largest graduating class since 2012.
“Rigel has been this work in progress for about the last 18 months, when he decided to change some things with his golf swing and short game,” Bradley said. “To see that progression and development is nice and he's just starting to see the fruits of his labor. He's an unbelievable kid and he's the reason you want to coach. He does the right things on and off the golf course.”
Bradley's Bulls will shoot for a third consecutive trip to the final rounds of the NCAA Championship when they compete at the Baton Rouge Regional May 15-17. USF is making its fifth straight NCAA Regional appearance.
All-Conference Team
Bobby Bai, UCF, Fr.
Manuel Elvira, UCF, Jr.
*Donnie Trosper, UCF, So.
*Austin Squires, Cincinnati, So.
Eric Dietrich, UConn, Sr.
Jimmy Hervol, UConn, So.
Tim Conover, East Carolina, Jr.
Papito Gonzalez, Houston, Jr.
Michael Perras, Houston, Jr.
Rigel Fernandes, USF, Sr.
*Cristian DiMarco, USF, Jr.
Jimmy Jones, USF, Jr.
Gray Townsend, SMU, Jr.
Player of the Year
Austin Squires, Cincinnati, So.
Freshman of the Year
Bobby Bai, UCF, Fr.
Coach of the Year
Steve Bradley, USF
[*] denotes unanimous selection
About USF Men's Golf
USF men's golf returns three players from the 2015-16 team that made program history with a return trip to the NCAA Championship. The Bulls have won the past three American Athletic Conference Championships in head coach Steve Bradley's first three seasons with the program. Follow @USFMGolf on Twitter for the latest information concerning the program.
