Photo by: Jared Thomas Sun Belt Conference
Bengtsson Named Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year
4/29/2025 4:00:00 PM | Men's Golf
CONWAY, S.C. – Coastal Carolina junior Max Bengtsson has been named the Sun Belt Conference Men's Golf Newcomer of the Year as the league announced its yearly awards Tuesday afternoon.
Bengtsson was also tabbed second-team all-conference, while freshman Drew Sykes was voted third team.
After spending his first two seasons at Tarleton State, Bengtsson joined the Chanticleers prior to the start of the 2024-25 season. The Halmstad, Sweden native competed in all nine events and tied for the team lead – along with Sykes – at 71.7 strokes per round. Bengtsson posted two top 10 and four top 20 finishes while carding 17 rounds of par or better. His best finish of the season was third place at the General Hackler Championship.
He becomes the third Coastal Carolina golfer to earn Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year honors joining Morgan Deneen (2018) and Zack Taylor (2019).
In addition to tying Bengtsson for the team scoring lead, Sykes also had a pair of top 10 and four top 20 finishes. He had 12 rounds of par or better, including a season-best 6-under par 66 in the first round of the Wyoming Desert Classic. The England native claimed second place at the JT Poston Invitational for his best finish of the season.
Bengtsson, Sykes, and the rest of the CCU men's golf team will receive its postseason destination Wednesday at 1 p.m. as the field for the 2025 NCAA Championship is revealed. The Chanticleers will be making their 13th NCAA appearance and first since 2018.
For complete coverage of CCU men's golf, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalMGolf (X), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com.
Bengtsson was also tabbed second-team all-conference, while freshman Drew Sykes was voted third team.
After spending his first two seasons at Tarleton State, Bengtsson joined the Chanticleers prior to the start of the 2024-25 season. The Halmstad, Sweden native competed in all nine events and tied for the team lead – along with Sykes – at 71.7 strokes per round. Bengtsson posted two top 10 and four top 20 finishes while carding 17 rounds of par or better. His best finish of the season was third place at the General Hackler Championship.
He becomes the third Coastal Carolina golfer to earn Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year honors joining Morgan Deneen (2018) and Zack Taylor (2019).
In addition to tying Bengtsson for the team scoring lead, Sykes also had a pair of top 10 and four top 20 finishes. He had 12 rounds of par or better, including a season-best 6-under par 66 in the first round of the Wyoming Desert Classic. The England native claimed second place at the JT Poston Invitational for his best finish of the season.
Bengtsson, Sykes, and the rest of the CCU men's golf team will receive its postseason destination Wednesday at 1 p.m. as the field for the 2025 NCAA Championship is revealed. The Chanticleers will be making their 13th NCAA appearance and first since 2018.
For complete coverage of CCU men's golf, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalMGolf (X), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com.
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