MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Sunshine State Conference announced the 2023-24 All-Conference awards for the men’s golf season on Monday afternoon. Mike Hay, the Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year and First-Team honoree, and Joey Marino, Coach of the Year, headlined the awards, while Joseba Torres (First-Team) and Will McGhie (Third-Team) were also recognized by the league.
Hay enjoyed a dominant 2023-24 campaign as a graduate student. Hay recorded three first place finishes, including winning the Sunshine State Conference Tournament. Through ten tournaments, Hay has recorded an SSC-leading 70.2 adjusted scoring average and added six top-five finishes. He ranks 14th on Clippd’s scoreboard and holds a comparative record of 674-72-23 (0.891 winning percentage). Hay becomes the fourth Nova Southeastern men’s golfer to be recognized as the Sunshine State Men’s Golfer of the Year and the first since 2015. Hay also earns his third consecutive first-team all-Sunshine State Conference honor of his career.
“Mike is having an unbelievable season and I know he is looking forward to continuing it throughout postseason play,” stated Marino. “All the wins and top finishes have been amazing, but I am most proud of the leadership role he has taken this season and showing the guys how we play Shark golf.”
Marino is recognized as the Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year, leading NSU to three wins and seven top-five finishes during the 2023-24 season. The Sharks placed top-five in all six events on their spring schedule, winning two events and added a pair of runner-up finishes. Marino becomes the fourth NSU Head Coach to be named Coach of the Year and the first since 2015.
“I am grateful to receive this award and I know what an honor it is to achieve in the Sunshine State Conference,” said Marino. “Our league is one of, if not the, most talented in NCAA Division II and the coaches we have representing our universities and men’s golf programs are among the best in the nation.”
Torres, joining Hay on the first-team, holds a scoring average of 71.1 through 30 rounds and a comparative record of 602-139-28 during the 2023-24 season. Torres began the season with a top-three finish at the National Preview and added a pair of top-five finishes – Copperhead Championship/Oct. 23 and the Saint Leo Invitational/Feb. 20. This marks the second All-Sunshine State honor of Torres’ career (2023 Second-Team).
Will McGhie was honored with third-team All-Sunshine State Conference honors. McGhie held a 71.8 scoring average during the 2023-24 season and earned a comparative record of 495-191-32. McGhie finished inside the top-10 in two events – sixth at the Bobcat Invitational/Mar. 19 and ninth at the Sunshine State Conference Championship/Apr. 23.
No. 11 Nova Southeastern begins play at the NCAA South/Southeast Regional on Thursday, May 9th, at the Chattahoochee Golf Club in Gainesville, Ga. NSU, the reigning NCAA Division II National Champions, enters the regional tournament as the top-seed from the South Region.
To stay up-to-date on Nova Southeastern Men’s Golf throughout their tournament run, be sure to follow on Instagram & X at NSU_MGolf.
