SAU, Theis Top Men's Golf Postseason Honor Roll

CHICAGO --- Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference champion St. Ambrose University brought home the most awards when the 2026 men's golf postseason honor roll was announced by the league office on Thursday morning.  The Fighting Bees' program secured four of the 14 overall awards presented, including the top prize.

Carsen Theis (Grimes, Iowa) highlighted the list as the CCAC Golfer of the Year.  The junior placed among the Top 20 performers in eight of ten tournaments this season.  He was also a three-time all-tournament team selection, topped by his third-place finish at the Loras College Duhawk Fall Invitational.

Theis averaged a 75.6 over his 22 rounds played this past fall and spring with his best round coming at the Highland Championship.  He shot a 67 there.  He also registered a 71 in the first round of the NAIA Championships and a 77 on the second day to miss the 36-hole cut by just one shot.

The other top individual award went to Holy Cross College's Derek Darnell (Amarillo, Texas), who was recognized as the CCAC Newcomer of the Year.  He averaged a 76.9 over 20 rounds this past season with his best finish being a fourth-place showing at the Saints Invite at Rock Hollow this past fall.

Trinity Christian College's Ricardo Serpa (Amadora, Portugal) closed out his collegiate career by earning first team all-conference accolades each of his four seasons.  Theis was named for the second time as was his teammate, Jacob Stoetzel (Mokena, Ill.).

The rest of the six-member first team was made up of Judson University's Riley Coakley (Carpentersville, Ill.), Viterbo University's Justin Kaczynski (Oak Creek, Wis.) and Olivet Nazarene University's Luke Martin (Eureka, Ill.).

There was also a five-member second team.

Eight schools in all came away with at least one honor.  After St. Ambrose, Judson, Olivet Nazarene and Holy Cross each had two squad members selected, while Viterbo, Trinity Christian, Governors State University and University of St. Francis each gained one award.

USF's Paul Downey was named the CCAC Coach of the Year in recognition of his 30-plus years of service to both St. Francis and the league.    

For the complete list of award winners, go to Awards.