LACEY, Wash. – After winning their first GNAC Championship in program history, the Saints' men's golf team ran away with GNAC awards, including Tyler Fitchett winning GNAC Player of the Year, Kevin Bishop winning GNAC Coach of the Year, and Nick Baker earning Newcomer of the Year.
 
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Fitchett, who the GNAC Championships Medalist winner, led the GNAC in stroke average by one whole stroke at 72.6. Over 13 rounds, Fitchett shot 944, including a season-best 69 in the opening round of the GNAC Championships. Fitchett earned GNAC Player of the Year, along with first team All-Conference. He becomes the first player in program history to earn the POTY award.
 
On the year, Fitchett finished with one medalist honor, one top-five finish, and three top-ten finishes, along with six rounds where he finished either par or under. For Fitchett, the award marks the third of career as he was named second team All-Conference in both 2019, and 2020.
 
For the third time in his career, and the first since 2014, head coach Kevin Bishop earned Coach of the Year. Bishop's squad took home the GNAC title, along with earning the conference's automatic qualifier for the NCAA West/South Central Regional, hosted at The Home Course in DuPont, Washington.
 
Transfer Nick Baker earned the program's third Newcomer of the Year award, and first since 2013. Baker played in all 13 rounds for the Saints, shooting 1010 strokes for an average of 77.7. Baker played a key part in the Saints' winning the GNAC title, shooting an even-par on the final round, finishing with the best score on the day for SMU. Baker's three par or under rounds was tied for second best on the team.
 
Joining Fitchett on the All-Conference teams were Max Turnquist, and Dennis Geissler on the second team.
 
Turnquist, who was a 2020 first team selection, was second on the team in scoring average at 75.0 over all 13 rounds. He placed top-ten in two tournaments, including finishing tied for sixth at the GNAC Championships. His 75.0 scoring average ranked tied for sixth in the conference.
 
Geissler placed third on the team in scoring average at 76.1, played in all 13 rounds for the Saints. His three par or under rounds tied for second best on the team with Baker, along with placing tied for 13th at the GNAC Championships. The award marks the first of the career for Geissler.