NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns golfers Peter Hinnant and Eli Ortego received postseason honors on Tuesday as the 2022 All-Sun Belt Conference team and specialty awards was released by the league office.

Hinnant, a third-team selection in 2021, was named a first-team pick in voting conducted by the league’s head coaches with Ortego named to the third team. Ortego was also selected as Freshman of the Year, joining former Ragin’ Cajuns Philipp Fendt (2009) and Fernando Cruz Valle (2014) in earning the SBC’s top rookie honor.

“We are extremely proud of Peter and Eli receiving All-Sun Belt Conference honors for the 2021-22 season. This is a reward based on an entire season of hard work and execution,” head coach Theo Sliman said. “Both Peter and Eli displayed leadership not only on the golf course but in the locker room as well. It is rewarding to see the Sun Belt Conference and coaches recognize their hard work and dedication to our program.”

Hinnant capped off one of the best seasons in Ragin’ Cajuns history finishing as the team leader in scoring average (72.60) and posting seven top-20 finishes in 12 events during the 2021-22 season. In a career-best 35 rounds of play, Hinnant posted the second-lowest, par-5 scoring average (4.7357) in school history while scoring average vs. par (0.60) was the third-lowest overall.

“One of many attributes that a coach expects in their players is that they work hard and are eager to learn and Peter has been the epitome of that,” added Sliman. “It has been a true honor and privilege to coach Peter and he has certainly been the epitome of a coaches’ desire.

“Finishing his career with the third-lowest scoring average in program history, the most birdies of all time and most importantly growing as a young boy into a man has me extremely proud. I am very confident in Peter’s future success and greatly look forward to watching him from afar.”

Hinnant, who posted 15 rounds of par or better on the season with eight rounds in the 60’s, recorded a pair of top-5 finishes and four top-10 performances. The Winston-Salem, N.C., native recorded a school-record 130 birdies on the season and finished tied with Ortego for the team lead with five eagles.

He was named the SBC Golfer of the Week after a fourth-place finish at Mossy Oak Collegiate (70-72-68-210) and recorded 10 birdies in the tournament to become the second Ragin’ Cajun golfer to surpass the 400-mark in a career.

Hinnant posted low round of 5-under 67 at Quail Valley Collegiate Invitational and recorded the fifth-best 54-hole score in school history at 10-under-par 206 (70-69-67). The senior posted eight consecutive rounds of par or better during a four-event span in the fall (Graeme McDowell Invitational, Quail Valley Collegiate Invitational, Hoakalei CC Invitational, Mobile Bay Intercollegiate) and had scores count towards the team total in 34 of 35 rounds, including final 32 rounds.

Ortego made 12 appearances as a true freshman, playing in 35 rounds while posting the second-lowest scoring average (72.97) on the team and fifth-lowest in school history. The Lafayette native recorded six top-20 finishes on the season with three top-10 performances.

He finished 16th overall at the SBC Championships, finishing as the top freshman in the field and posted scores of par or better in 18 rounds – one off the school-record set by Richard Ainley (2001) and Fendt (2010). Ortego produced four rounds in the 60’s on the season with his low round (4-under-68) coming at the Hoakalei CC Invitational.

“Peter has left a torch that Eli is ready to carry,” said Sliman. “Eli’s freshman campaign has been very impressive, highlighted by establishing his mark with the fifth-lowest scoring average in his debut season along with being one round shy of breaking a 21-year record for most rounds of par or better in a single season.

“The future is bright for our program, and I look forward to continue working with Eli as he continues to grow as a golfer and as a man.”

Ortego finished sixth overall at Mobile Bay Intercollegiate (71-70-70-211) with a low 54-hole score and tied for sixth overall at the Lone Star Invitational (76-72-71-219). He carded 54-hole score of 212 (73-69-70) to finish tied for 13th at the Lake Las Vegas Intercollegiate and finished at 3-under-213 to place 17th overall at the Louisiana Classics (72-72-69-213).

Ortego tied with Hinnant with a team-high five eagles on the season and was second behind Hinnant in birdies made (118).