Billy Tom Sargent

Western Kentucky men’s golfer Billy Tom Sargent became the program’s first all-conference selection in nearly a decade Wednesday, as the redshirt junior was named to the All-Conference USA Second Team.

Sargent is the first Hilltopper to receive all-league honors since Alex Yost was named to the All-Sun Belt Conference Team in 2010.

The Georgetown native was the team’s top finisher at seven events in the 2017-18 campaign, recording nine top-20s, five top-10s, three top-fives and one victory at the Border Olympics in March. He finished the season with a team-best stroke average of 72.5.

The individual win at the Border Olympics was the third of Sargent’s career. He shot a career-low, 12-under 204 to claim victory, the lowest 54-hole score by a Hilltopper since 2009. He was named C-USA Golfer of the Week as a result. 

Two weeks before that, Sargent shot a 10-under 206 at the Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate to place third. It was part of a stretch in which he carded six scores of 69 or lower in nine opportunities.

Despite battling a knee injury over the final three tournaments of the season, Sargent tied for 11th at the 2018 Conference USA Championship, the best conference tournament result by a Hilltopper since 2010. His 219 total was also the program’s best since 2014.

This is the first time since 2000 the Hilltopper and Lady Topper Golf programs have each featured all-conference players in the same season.