2016 MVC Men's Golf Scholar-Athlete Release

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Garret Buckley (Novi, Mich./Novi) and PJ Riner (Johns Creek, Ga./Johns Creek), both members of the Loyola University Chicago men's golf team, have been named Honorable Mention selections to the Missouri Valley Conference's Scholar-Athlete Team for men's golf, it was announced by the league office on Monday morning.

Buckley followed up on a breakout freshman campaign with a solid sophomore season. The Novi, Mich. product saw action in all 32 rounds of play this season for the Maroon & Gold as he posted a 77.6 stroke average that ranked third on the Rambler roster. Buckley was Loyola's top finisher at three events during the 2015-16 season, highlighted by a 12th-place finish at the Tiger Turning Stone Intercollegiate where he posted a 54-hole season low of 218 (74-71-73). He fired a season-low 70 during the final round of the Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational in the team's penultimate competition of the spring season before earning a share of 24th place at the Missouri Valley Conference Men's Golf Championship with a three-round tally of 230 (74-74-82).

Away from the course, Buckley boasts a 3.25 cumulative grade-point average as an Environmental Science major.

Riner wrapped up his time in Rogers Park by putting together the top statistical season of his Loyola career. A senior out of Johns Creek, Ga., Riner, who also competed in all 32 rounds this season, closed the year with a career-low 76.5 stroke average that led all Ramblers. He paced the Loyola attack in three different events, earning a season-best third-place finish at the Bradley Spring Invitational where he fired a season-low 69 as part of a 54-hole season low of 221 (78-69-74). Riner closed out his collegiate career by finishing alongside Buckley in a tie for 24th at the conference meet with a 230 (75-71-84).

Riner holds a 3.26 cumulative grade-point average as an Information Systems major.

The criteria for the MVC scholar-athlete team parallels the CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) standards for its Academic All-America program. Nominees must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average (4.0 scale), while the student-athletes must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at their institutions and must have participated in at least 50 percent of his team's rounds or played at the MVC Championship.