HENNIKER, N.H. - The New England College men's golf team was crowned Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) champions on Wednesday after using a day two comeback to jump the rest of the field to earn their third straight conference title. Along the way, senior Graham Hassan (Pinckney, Mich.) and freshman Emil Elias (Ekerö, Sweden) earned themselves spots on the GNAC All-Conference First Team. 

Hassan had a bit of a down day on Tuesday, to his standards, posting a 79 (+9) and sitting in eighth place after the first round. On Wednesday, the senior returned to form and led the team as he had done all year. Hassan's 70 (E) on day two was the best single-round score across the two-day event, and Graham vaulted all the way up to second place on the individual leaderboard. As a top five finisher, he earned a spot on the All-Conference First Team. 

Graham put up a strong senior season prior to the GNAC Championships. The team competed in seven meets during the regular season, of which Hassan placed top 5 four times and top 10 six times. He earned a spot on the GNAC Weekly Honor Roll four times this season and was also named the GNAC Golfer of the Week once. His remarkable consistency helped lead the team to four wins this season, and he saved the best for last as his day two score was his best round of the season.  

Elias got his first taste of the GNAC Championships this week, and the freshman met the opportunity head on with a fourth overall finish. Emil led the Pilgrims on Tuesday with a 78 (+8) and came right back with a 77 (+7) on Wednesday. In round two, he recorded 12 pars and one birdie. His overall score of +15 was the second best among freshmen.  

Emil had been playing extremely well since the middle of September, finishing in the top 10 of each of their last four meets prior to the GNAC Championships. He had shot sub-80 three times this season, but that mark has now been improved to five times after both days of the two-day playoff tournament. Elias had been named the GNAC Rookie of the Week once and earned a spot on the GNAC Weekly Honor Roll once. Now, he lands on the GNAC All-Conference First Team as a freshman. Elias also earned a spot on the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team.  

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