Ferris State's Cook Captures GLIAC Men's Golf Athlete of the Year Honors; All-Conference Teams Revealed

Ferris State's Cook Captures GLIAC Men's Golf Athlete of the Year Honors; All-Conference Teams Revealed

BAY CITY, Mich. — Ferris State senior Ben Cook has been named 2017 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Men's Golf Athlete of the Year as announced by the conference office on Wednesday (April 26). Wayne State's Brendan Says earned Freshman of the Year honors, while Grand Valley State's Gary Bissell captured Coach of the Year accolades after guiding the Lakers to the 2017 GLIAC Men's Golf Championship.

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Ben Cook - Ferris State

Ferris State University's Ben Cook led the Bulldogs to a GLIAC runner-up finish this season and a top 10 national ranking. The senior standout claimed GLIAC Player of the Year honors for the second time in his collegiate career after previously earning the distinction in 2015 when he was also chosen to the Division II PING All-America Team. A two-time all-region choice, Cook compiled eight top-10 tournament finishes this year, including winning the Kyle Ryman Invitational hosted by Tiffin last fall. He placed among the top three golfers in five events and tied for sixth overall at the league championships. The four-year letterwinner led FSU to five tournament championships this year and an expected 15th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Brendan Seys - Wayne State

Brendan Seys is the fourth Wayne State men's golfer to be named GLIAC Freshman of the Year in program history, joining Andrus in 2013-14, Alex LaSerra in 2012-13 and Ryan Johnson in 2003-04.  He tallied two top-five and four top-10 finishes,  Currently, he carries a 75.3 stroke average over 23 rounds this season, including a 75.1 mark during the Spring season.  He collected four under-par rounds, including a season-low round of 69 during the Kyle Ryman Memorial (Oct. 1-2) on his way to a seventh-place finish.  Seys notched a season-best finish of third place on two occasions.  He finished third at the GLIAC North Invitational (Sept. 17-18) with a 142 (72, 70) and tied-for-third at the third Midwest Regional (April 3-4) of the season by shooting a 143 (72, 71).  His fourth and final top-10 result was a tie for eighth place at the BrownGolf Intercollegiate (March 17-18) where he carded a 150 (79, 71).

COACH OF THE YEAR: Gary Bissell - Grand Valley State

Gary Bissell has been named GLIAC Coach of the Year after leading the GVSU men's golf team to a seventh GLIAC Golf Championship title, one of four first place finishes this season and the first GLIAC title for the program since 2012-13. Additionally, Bissell has led the Lakers to a fifth place or better finish in every tournament they have competed in this season, and have three golfers receiving All-GLIAC First Team honors for the first time since the 2013-13 season. 

A complete list of the 2017 All-GLIAC Men's Golf teams are listed below:

2017 GLIAC Men's Golf Postseason Awards

Athlete of the Year: Ben Cook - Ferris State University

                                                   Conference Medalist: Joel Pietila - Hillsdale College

Freshman of the Year: Brendan Seys - Wayne State University

Coach of the Year: Gary Bissell - Grand Valley State University

2017 GLIAC All-Conference Men's Golf Teams

First Team

Name

School

Yr.

Hometown/High School/Previous

Ben Cook

Ferris State

Sr.

Caledonia, Mich. / GR South Christian

Domenic Mancinelli

Grand Valley State

Jr.

Plymouth, Mich. / Detroit Catholic Central

Alex Scott

Grand Valley State

So.

Traverse City, Mich. / West

Bryce Messner

Grand Valley State

So.

Hartland, Mich.

Ryan Peruski

Saginaw Valley

Jr.

Saline, Mich.

Jack Weller

Ferris State

Jr.

Swartz Creek, Mich.

Joel Pietila Hillsdale So. Rockford, Mich.

Second Team

Name

School

Yr.

Hometown/High School/Previous

Jordan Andrus Wayne State R-Sr. Pinckney, Mich.

Mason Motte

Saginaw Valley

Jr.

Jeddo, Mich.

Matt Garland Northwood Sr. Battle Creek, Mich. / Lakeview
Brendan Seys Wayne State Fr. Port Lambton, Ont. / Ursuline College Chatham
Alex Nannetti Grand Valley State
Sr. West Bend, Wis.
Liam Purslowe Hillsdale So. Perth, West Australia / Guildford

Honorable Mention

Name

School

Yr.

Hometown/High School/Previous

Brett Green Tiffin Sr. Alma, Mich.

Austin Elsner

Northern Michigan

Jr.

New London, Wis.

Luke Kelly Findlay Fr. Brownsburg, Ind.
Jay Green Tiffin Jr. Alma, Mich.
Seth Terpstra Ferris State Jr. Grandville, Mich.
Martin Eliasson Northern Michigan So. Sweden / Bildningscentrum Facetten