The Northern Kentucky University men’s golf team defended its Great Lakes Valley Championship last week, with an impressive eight-shot win over second place Southern Illinois at Edwardsville.

It was deja vu for the Norse as senior David Shearer, for the third consecutive season, was named GLVC Player of the Year. Clinton Kohls made the All-GLVC team for the second straight year; finishing second in the tournament did not hurt his cause. Head Coach Daryl Landrum was named Men’s Golf Coach of the Year.

Shearer was more concerned with the team winning.

“I don’t worry about individual accomplishments I just want us to keep winning,” he said.

Shearer, who shot a -1 (71) to finish the tournament at +3, ironically beating fellow teammate Clinton Kohls by one shot.

“This team is so special because I know if I have a bad day, my teammates will pick me up and have time and time again this year,” Shearer said.

According to Landrum, NKU has four of the top ten players in scoring average in the conference.

“When you have the best fifth man in the nation, then you know we have a shot at beating anybody,” Shearer said.

He is referring to senior Andrew Jewell, who finished tied for 22nd in last week’s tournament. Shearer says even though Jewell is the fifth man he can beat anyone on any given day.

Team chemistry is also something the players have going for them, and Shearer thinks it’s because of Landrum.

“The reason I came to NKU is coach. His laid back but competitive attitude makes it easy for all of us. If someone has a bad hole, coach will just crack a joke and try to make us forget it,” Shearer said.

Shearer is from Michigan, where the GLVC tournament was held last week, so to him the cold and rainy weather did not really affect him.

“I was use to those conditions, I can’t say I really liked them but it didn’t affect me one way or another,” he said.

Shearer says the only part of his game he needs to work on is his short game.

“I need to spend a lot of time at the putting green before the regional tournament,” he said. “I need to get the ball closer to the hole with my chipping, the other parts of my game are going real well right now.”

Shearer and the rest of the team will head to Rend Lake, Ill., to compete in the Great Lakes Regional Invite April 20-22 at Lockhaven Golf Course.

With the Norse riding a two tournament winning streak, confidence is on their side.

They are ranked No. 1 in the Great Lakes Regional Poll and hope to stay there. ” I know we hopefully will be the team to beat, but there are other really good teams such as Ferris State, Grand Valley State and Bellarmine,” Shearer said.