Albany Herald

Georgia Southwestern star golfers J.P. Griffin, left, and Craig Gibson both ended their seasons with All-American accolades.

AMERICUS - Georgia Southwestern men's golfers J.P. Griffin and Craig Gibson were recently named to the NCAA Division II PING All-America Third Team by the Golf Coaches Association of America.

Both golfers were named All-Southeast earlier this month.

Griffin capped off a successful junior season with a record-setting postseason run. He posted a 5-under 211 at the South/Southeast Super Regional and finished the three-day event tied for second to earn the program's first-ever birth in the NCAA Division II National Championships. At the national tournament he proceeded to finish 4-under and tied for ninth place in the 108-player event.

Griffin took home second place at the season-opening Kiawah Island Invitational and was co-champion at the Frito Lay/Taco Bell Intercollegiate on Feb. 19.

The Glennville native ended the year 12th in the Peach Belt Conference with a 73.4 scoring average. He posted five top-five finishes in 12 events. Of the 30 rounds played in 2011-12, he finished under par 10 times. Griffin was named to the PBC All-Conference Second Team and earned PBC Golfer of the Week honors on Feb. 23.

The All-America distinction capped a tremendous senior campaign for Gibson. He was the individual medalist for the second time in three years at the 17-team, 90-player, Aflac/Cougar Invitational in the fall. He took second place at the 8-team Alabama State Fall Golf Classic and finished third at the PBC Championships.

Gibson fired the 'Canes low round of the school year on Mar. 20 with a 65 in the third round of the Bobcat Intercollegiate in Milledgeville. The 65 was the second-lowest score in the PBC in 2011-12. He posted rounds of 66 (Bearcat Invitational) and 67 (Peach Belt Championships and NCAA South/Southeast Super Regional) as well. The 67 rounds were both low rounds in each respective tournament.

The Brooks, Alberta native recorded eight top-10 finishes in 12 tournaments while finishing in the top five on five occasions. Of the 31 rounds played in 2011-12, he finished under par 10 times. Overall, Gibson finished the year with the fifth-lowest scoring average in the Peach Belt at 72.7. He was named to the PBC All-Conference First Team and All-PBC Tournament Team and on Oct. 6 earned PBC Golfer of the Week honors.

A total of 25 players were named to NCAA Division II PING All-America teams in 2012.