OKLAHOMA CITY – After announcing the expansion of the Team of the Decade in January for all seven of Mid-America Christian University's active sports programs, including men's golf, the MACU Athletic Department is proud to announce the kickoff of the Team of the Decade selections from the men's golf program.
After carefully evaluating each player's accomplishments and statistics, the MACU athletic administration tasked with compiling the list selected 10 standouts to the All-Decade Team, with the inclusion of a "Player of the Decade."
For a player to be accepted to the Team of the Decade list, he or she must have graduated from Mid-America Christian with at least a Bachelor's Degree between 2010-2019 and competed for at least one season between the 2009-10 and 2018-19 athletic years. Any student-athletes that competed during the last decade that graduated in 2020 or later will be eligible for the 2020-2029 Team of the Decade list.
The only exemption for the graduation requirement will be for any former men's golf student-athletes currently enrolled in college either at MACU or elsewhere due to the program coming to an end following the 2018-19 season.
Listed below are the 10 student-athletes that were selected to the All-Decade Team, including the Player of the Decade…
MACU Team of the Decade | Men's Golf
Caleb Conn (PLAYER OF THE DECADE)
Years Competed: 2016-17 (one season)
In just one season with the Evangels, Conn was one of the most impactful players in the history of the program. During the 2016-17 campaign, Conn recorded top 20 finishes in seven of the 10 tournaments he competed in, becoming the only player in program history to notch seven top 20 finishes in one season. At the 2016 NCCAA National Championships played at The Hombre in Panama City, Fla., Conn carded a 235 to finish in a tie for 20th. It was the lowest tournament score and the highest finish ever for a MACU men's golfer at the NCCAA national meet. Conn put together a scoring average of 77.2 strokes per round in his one season at MACU, setting the second-lowest average in program history. Conn was particularly efficient in three-round tournaments, as his 77.16 scoring average is the program's best in such tournaments. The Seminole, Oklahoma product's lowest three-round tournament score came in the 2016 NCCAA Central Region Championships at the Golf Club of Edmond, shooting a 228 to place in a tie for 12th. His two-round tournament low score came at the 2017 Bethel Spring Invite, carding a 147 to notch his highest collegiate tournament finish, placing eighth out of 91 competitors.
"What an incredible honor this is to be a part of such an elite group of athletes in all sports that have represented MACU in such an amazing way," said Conn. "I would like the thank MACU for selecting me as player of the decade as I will always cherish my moments as a MACU student-athlete! I would like to thank the great Coach (Allen) Dukes. He was an incredible role model and pushed us every day to be better not only on the course, but to succeed in the beginning of our lives after college."
"Caleb Conn was easily the most consistent player during my tenure as Head Golf Coach at MACU," said Allen Dukes. "He was a solid player from top to bottom with no weaknesses. His biggest strength was his golf course management. He was fun to coach and be around on a daily basis and his enthusiasm rubbed off on his teammates."
Isaac Maston
Years Competed: 2017-19 (two seasons)
In two seasons at MACU, Maston was one of the most prolific players in program history, recording the program's scoring average record of 77.05. Maston was one of only three golfers in the last decade to record two or more top five finishes and one of four MACU players to record three or more top 10 placements. As a freshman, Maston shot the second-lowest three-round tournament score in program history at the 2017 UC Ferguson Classic, carding a 219 to finish 13th of 54 participants. Maston is also the only player in MACU history to hold two of the top four lowest three-round tournament scores, as his 222 at the 2019 Sooner Athletic Conference Championships isn't just the fourth-lowest tourney score, but also the second-lowest score a MACU golfer has ever tallied at the SAC Championships. The Blanchard, Oklahoma native's best finish in a three-round tournament came at the 2018 NCCAA Central Region Championships as his 229 was able to net him a third-place finish out of 34 participants. At the 2019 Oklahoma Wesleyan Spring Eagle Classic, Maston nearly netted a victory after shooting a 151 in the two-round tourney to finish tied for second in the 82 player field.
Tyler Price
Years Competed: 2016-18 (two seasons)
Price closed out his two-year career as one of the top golfers in program history, as his 78.47 scoring average per round is the fourth-lowest career average in MACU history. The Harrah, Oklahoma product is one of only three men's golfers during the NAIA era to record four or more top 10 finishes and his eight top 20 finishes is tied for the third-most of any golfer in the history of the program. At the 2017 NCCAA Central Region Championships at the Lake Hefner Golf Course, Price turned in the program's lowest three-round tournament score by carding a 218 to finish in a career-best third of 42 golfers in the event. Price is also the only golfer in program history to ever record multiple top 10 finishes at the NCCAA Central Regional, turning in a seventh-place score of 224 in the 2016 event. Price's best two-round outing came at the 2017 St. Gregory's Cavalier Classic at the Shawnee Country Club, as his 148 earned him a seventh-place finish out of 53 participants.
James Wiginton
Years Competed: 2008-12 (four seasons)
A four-year competitor with the MACU men's golf team, Wiginton closed out his MACU career as one of only two players in program history to record three top five finishes. The Noble, Oklahoma native's best career finish came at the 2011 Oklahoma Baptist Spring Invitational, as his two-round 157 scored him a second place finish. Wiginton found the top five again during the fall portion of the 2011-12 season on the same golf course when he carded a 148 to place fourth out of 46 participants in the OBU Fall Invite. His final top five placement came in the friendly confines of Earlywine Golf Course in the 2011 MACU Tournament, as his 145 not only netted him a fifth-place finish, but also went down as the fourth-lowest two-round tournament score in the history of the program. At the 2010 Sooner Athletic Conference Championships, Wiginton made his mark in the MACU record books by closing out the tournament with a three-round score of 221. Not only does the score still hold up as MACU's lowest individual score ever at the SAC Championships, but it is also the third-lowest three-round tournament score ever at MACU.
Karl Griffith
Years Competed: 2008-12 (four seasons)
At the conclusion of the decade, Griffith will go down as the only player in the history of the MACU men's golf program to ever record six top 10 finishes, tied Winginton for the most top five finishes with three and also matched Maston for the second-most top 20 finishes with nine. The local Mustang, Oklahoma product's career-best showing came in the 2010 Central Christian Fall Invite at Turkey Creek Golf Course in McPherson, Kansas, shooting a pair of 73's to net a second-place finish of 146. Griffith backed it up from his stellar performance at the CCC Fall Invite the year prior, as he shot the third-lowest two-round tournament score in program history with a 143. Griffith's best three-round showing of his career came in the 2010 UC Ferguson Classic, closing out the tourney with a 225 for the eighth-lowest three-round tournament score ever played at MACU. On the whole, Griffith wrapped up the decade with MACU's fifth-lowest career scoring average at 78.61 and fifth-lowest two-round tournament average of 78.15.
Gage Gibson
Years Competed: 2017-19 (two seasons)
In just two seasons, Gibson made an enormous impact in the MACU men's golf program. Even playing as a freshman and sophomore, Gibson compiled the seventh-best career scoring average (78.72) while recording a pair of top 10 finishes and tied for third in program history with eight top 20 placements. The Norman, Oklahoma native's best finish as an individual came at the 2019 Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagle Spring Classic, as his 153 earned him a seventh-place finish out of 82 golfers and helped the team finish second out of 14 teams at the meet. Gibson's other top 10 placement came at the 2018 NCCAA Central Region Championships, carding a 234 to finish eighth while guiding MACU to a second-place finish as a team. In the 2019 Sooner Athletic Conference Championships, Gibson became just the second MACU men's golfer to ever record a top 15 finish in the tournament by tying the seventh-lowest three-round score in program history with a 224. The righty's lowest two-round tourney score came at the 2018 SCU Fall Invite, notching a 146 to match the sixth-lowest score in the history of MACU golf.
Ryan Harris
Years Competed: 2012-15 (three seasons)
Harris wrapped up his three-year MACU career with the program's sixth-best scoring average at 78.69, playing particularly well in three-round tournaments with MACU's fifth-best three-round tournament average of 78.66. The Oklahoma City native and Moore High School graduate recorded the lowest two-round tournament score of 142 at the 2012 Southwestern Christian Fall Invite, which included a second round 67, setting the lowest single round score in program history. Harris' best ever finish in a two-round tournament came in the 2012 Central Christian Fall Invite, carding a 156 to finish in a tie for sixth. Harris' lowest three-round score came at the 2014 UC Ferguson Classic, turning in a 228 to close out in a tie for 44th in the elite caliber tournament.
Jerry Miller
Years Competed: 2012-16 (four seasons)
Posting a highly successful four-year career with the Evangels, Miller was one of the best three-round tournament players in program history, notching MACU's third-lowest three-round tournament average of 77.71. The Moore, Oklahoma product is only one of two players to record multiple sub-224 tournament scores, which included recording one of MACU's four top 20 finishes at the SAC Championships. After scoring a 222 at the 2016 league championship, Miller set the fourth-lowest three-round score in the history of the program. In the 2014 NCCAA Central Region Championship, Miller turned in a 223 for the sixth-lowest three-round score at MACU. Miller is also the only player in the NAIA era to ever record a win in a tournament with at least three teams competing, shooting a 149 in the 2015 Central Christian Spring Invite. In 2014, Miller was a recipient of NCCAA Scholar-Athlete honors.
Matt Costilow
Years Competed: 2008-11 (three seasons)
In a three-year career with the MACU men's golf program, Costilow posted the ninth-lowest career scoring average in the team's NAIA era at 79.5. The Oklahoma City native posted two top 10 and four top 20 finishes in his career. His best placement with the Evangels came at the 2010 Central Christian Fall Invite, where he posted a 148 to finish in a tie for eighth in the 63 player field at Turkey Creek Golf Course in McPherson, Kansas. Costilow's other top 10 finish came at the 2010 Southwestern Christian Fall Invite played at Lake Hefner Golf Course, where he shot a career-low round 70 to place 10th out of 81 competitors. Costilow's career low three-round tournament score came at the 2010 UC Ferguson Classic hosted by Oklahoma City University, turning in a 227 from the challenging Lincoln Hills Golf Course.
Nathan Chadd
Years Competed: 2015-17 (two seasons)
Helping lead a resurgence in the men's golf program, Chadd closed out his two-year career with the Evangels by recording a top five, two top 10 and six top 20 finishes while notching an 80.25 scoring average. The Wichita, Kansas native's best showing in a MACU uniform at that 2017 South Central Kansas Invitational played at Quail Ridge Golf Course in Winfield, Kansas, carding a two-round 153 to finish in second place out of the 37 competitors in the meet. Chadd's second top 10 finish came at the 2017 St. Gregory's Spring Cavalier Classic played at the Shawnee Country Club, where he tied a career two-round low of 148 to finish in a tie for seventh. Chadd's strongest outing in a three-round meet came in the UC Ferguson Classic at Lincoln Park Golf Course in 2015, scoring a 228 to finish in 35th in the very strong 81-player field.
Next Tuesday, Mid-America Christian University will be announcing the 2010s Team of the Decade for the volleyball program.
