SAN FRANCISCO -- Academy of Art men's golf took another step in the right direction in 2019 with their highest finish ever at the PacWest Championship and four selections to the All-PacWest team, the most in program history.

Junior Gabriel De Leon Manotoc led the honors with an All-PacWest First Team recognition. Sophomore Matthew Watkins was named to the All-PacWest Second Team, and seniors Oskar Frick and Lawrence Liang earned All-PacWest Third Team honors. It was Manotoc and Watkins second straight All-PacWest recognition, third of Frick's career, and Liang's first.

"At the start of the season the team knew we had the talent to have a solid year," said head coach Andy Moren. "Everyone did an excellent job in practice and preparation, which showed throughout the course of the year. The fall season had some great moments and even though the team got off to a rough start in the spring they began to gain moment throughout each tournament."

The Urban Knights teed off for the first time at the Saint Martin's Invitational on Sept. 22 and placed 14th of 18. Manotoc was ART U's top finisher, ending tied for 14th with a cumulative score of 4-over-par 220. The Knights had a solid showing at the Western Washington Invitational on Sept. 25, tying for eighth out of a strong 20-team field. ART U concluded their fall with the Dennis Rose Intercollegiate in Waikoloa, Hawaii, where they once again took eighth.

The spring season started with Academy of Art hosting the Bay Area Invitational at TCP Harding Park in San Francisco on Feb. 26. Watkins led the Urban Knights with his 24th place finish and shot a season low 2-under-par 70 in the second round. The Knights captured their best finish of the season, to that point, the following tournament, placing seventh at the NDNU Invitational. Manotoc was exceptional and finished tied for fifth in an 85 man field. The fifth place finish earned him PacWest Golfer of the Week on March 14.

At the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout, junior Otto Homruen shot the best round of any ART U golfer thus far, with a 3-under-par 69 in the final round, although Manotoc was the Knights highest finisher, tied for 11th. The finish earned him his second straight PacWest Golfer of the Week award on March 21. The team ended the Pioneer Shootout tied for eighth with Dominican with a cumulative score of 896.

Academy of Art traveled to Goodyear, Ariz. next for the Mustang Intercollegiate, their largest tournament of the season, comprised of 23 of the top teams in the West and South region. On the first day of competition, Watkins shot the best round in ART U history, twice. The sophomore out of Novato, Calif. fired back-to-back rounds of 5-under-par 67 to tie Frick for the best single round score in program history. Watkins ended with a cumulative score of 10-under-par 206 to tie the best cumulative score in men's golf history. His fourth place finish led the Urban Knights to ninth place, ahead of Super Regional Champion Dixie State and PacWest Champion Holy Names. It also led Watkins to his first PacWest Golfer of the Week award of the season on April 11.

The Urban Knights best finish of the season came on the biggest stage, the PacWest Championships in Litchfield Park, Ariz on April 24. After tying for third the first two days, Academy of Art had the best round three of any team, shooting 2-under-par 286 to claim runner-up honors. Second place stands as the best finish at the conference championship of any Academy of Art men's golf team in program history. The stellar third round effort was led by Manotoc and Homruen who both shot 1-under-par to tie for second individually and land on the All-Tournament Team. The Knights ended just three strokes away from capturing their first PacWest title.

"We have the talent to be the best team in the conference," said Moren. "The guys realize that. Everyone is looking forward to next year and try to finish one spot better."

After the PacWest Championship, Manotoc went on to represent ART U at the NCAA Division II West/South Central Regionals for the second straight year. Manotoc went 73, 72, 72 in the three rounds respectively to tie for 30th in a field of 108.

"I think this season is the perfect blend of confidence and motivation," said Moren. "The team had their best season in program history, but they know they have the chance to accomplish more next year."

And with four returners and a strong group of newcomers, the Academy of Art men's golf team looks poised for an even better 2020.