Junior Phillip Westermann has performed well throughout the season for the Lions men’s golf team, and on Wednesday March 28, the Pinneberg, Germany native was named Southland Conference Golfer of The Month for the month of March.
At the end of each month, each school’s Sports Information Director (SID) nominates and votes for Golfer of the Month but is prohibited from voting for their own player. Westermann has helped lead Southeastern to four top-3 finishes on the season, two coming in the month of March and a top 100 ranking coming in as the No. 69 team in the country. Westermann tied the school record with his fourth career victory at the Carter Plantation Intercollegiate on March 19 and 20, with a three-stroke win over Arkansas-Little Rock’s Alfred Kerstis. This marked the 25th career event, as he tied former Lion Cedric Scotto, a four-time medalist. Westmann had this to say after the Carter Plantation victory.
“It was very special. I really tried to prepare for this one,” said Westermann. “Winning isn’t easy and it feels very special to have done it here in front of everybody from Southeastern.”
Playing up against the wind, head coach Tim Baldwin still felt that Westermann played well at Carter Plantation.
“Phil played fantastic. For him to shoot 209 in these conditions was fantastic,” said Baldwin.
Westermann followed his Carter Plantation outing with a third place finish at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) First Tee Collegiate Classic, from March 26-27. Westermann’s efforts helped propel the Lions to their first team championship of the season, and first since winning the SLC Championship in 2010.
The victory marked Baldwin’s 40th career tournament title. Out of the nine rounds played, Westermann posted six rounds below par. In nine rounds in March, Westermann averaged a 71.67 stroke average, including a round low of 68.
The award marks Westermann’s fourth time receiving the honor. The Lions opened up the April part of the schedule yesterday and today at the BancorpSouth Intercollegiate in Madison, Miss. and will return to action during spring break at the Houston Intercollegiate tourney April 9-11 before the Southland Championships at the end of the month.