STATE COLLEGE, PA. – Gorham’s Tommy Stirling, a sophomore at Southern Maine Community College, won the individual national title and all-American honors at the United States Collegiate Athletic Association golf championship held at the Penn State University Blue Course in State College, Pa. on Oct. 11.

Stirling entered the USCAA championship ranked second in the nation with a 75.2 average. He opened the championship with an even-par 72, which put him tied for the lead with Kris Bartling of Rochester College. During the final round of play on Monday, Stirling was able to remain focused and went on to shoot a four-under 68 to claim the title. His total score of 140 bested second place finisher Bo Cook of Lindenwood-Belleville by four shots and Stirling’s round included an incredible 13 birdies.

Stirling wasn’t the only local golfer from SMCC to take home All-American honors. Cape Elizabeth’s Alex McFarlane, a freshman at SMCC, was also named as an All-American. The top five individual finishers qualify for the award and McFarlane finished tied for fifth after shooting a 1-under par 71, which was an eight-stroke improvement from his first round score.

“Tommy and Alex both played unbelievable golf for two days,” said SMCC coach Tom Cloutier. “I couldn’t be more proud of the effort they put forth and the way in which they represented our program and Southern Maine Community College.”

Tommy Stirling of Gorham, a sophomore at Southern Maine
Community College, won the individual national title and
all-American honors at the United States Collegiate Athletic
Association golf championship on Oct. 11. (Courtesy photo)