April 26, 2019
Men’s Golf
All-Sunshine State Conference
Melbourne, Fla. – Lynn University’s men’s golf program saw Toto Gana, Jorge Villar and Giovanni Manznoi collect All-Sunshine State Conference honors, as announced by the league office on Friday. Gana earned first team recognition with Villar and Manzoni garnered second team laurels.
This is the most selections for the men’s golf team since 2017 when the squad earned one first team and two second team selections. It also marks the sixth consecutive year Lynn has received multiple honorees, and 13th time overall. The defending NCAA Division II National Champions have been successful under first-year head coach Andy Walker, earning a No. 2 national ranking, winning three tournaments and finishing as runner-up in three more.
Gana gets the first team nod following second team recognition in 2018. The junior out of Santiago, Chile, has anchored the squad with a team-best 71.43 stroke average and six top-10 finishes, which also includes four top-five finishes and a victory at the NCAA D2 Preview, the first tournament win of his career.
Villar has emerged as one of the top golfers in his sophomore season, setting personal-best marks in stroke average (72.07) and top-10 finishes with three. He shot a career-low round (64) and 54-hole total (209) at the NCAA D2 Preview while 11 of his 27 rounds have gone for par or better.
Manzoni becomes the first freshman since 2017 to pick up All-SSC honors and the fifth in program history. His recognition comes despite arriving on campus in January. The Cremella, Italy, native earned top-five finishes in two of the four tournaments he competed in, tying for second at the Bobcat Invitational and tying for fifth at the Battle of the Shores. His 71.75 stroke average is second only to Gana on the team.
Barry’s Jorge Garcia and head coach Jimmy Stobbs were honored as SSC Golfer and Coach of the Year while Max Coutsolioutsos of Florida Southern was named the SSC Freshman of the Year. Barry led the way with four selections followed by Lynn’s three while no other institution had more than one pick. DespiteCoutsolioutsos’ honor, Manzoni was the only freshman to be placed on the All-SSC First or Second Teams.
The NCAA will announce the South/Southeast Regional field shortly. Lynn will be making its 17th consecutive appearance. Competition begins Thursday, May 9, at the Miss Inn Resort & Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. The top-seven teams advance to the NCAA Division II National Championship at the Resort at Glades Springs in Daniels, W. Va., from Monday, May 20, through Friday, May 24.
About the Fighting Knights
Lynn University’s national champion Fighting Knights compete in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, softball, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and volleyball. The university’s 19 intercollegiate teams are home to nearly 300 student athletes. Lynn is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II institution and winner of 24 national championships and 41 Sunshine State Conference titles. Representing spirit, service and strength, the Fighting Knights strive for greatness through athletic performance and academic excellence. For more information, visit: lynnfightingknights.com.
