The Union Pines boys’ golf team celebrated a successful season at its year-end banquet last week.

Viking golfers Connor Reilly, Jake Sauer, Brandon Mawyer and Trevor Owens, all juniors, along with sophomore Robert Harris and freshman Cody Roberts, each earned All-Conference honors in the Cape Fear Valley Conference.

With a perfect score of 49 in league competition, the Vikings bested Southern Lee by eight points and Western Harnett by nine to claim the conference championship. Reilly, who finished as the runner-up in the final conference individual standings, received the team MVP award.

“I have been on the team for the past three years, and this season was an obvious improvement from the previous years,” said Reilly. “The teamwork was something that we had never had before this season, and we all worked together to achieve a common goal in winning conference.

“The team was highly disappointed not qualifying for states, but we are excited for next season, and we have set a goal to win states next year.”

Over the previous three seasons, the Vikings were almost a one-man show as Robert Hoadley won two individual state championships in his final three years and qualified as an individual at the state finals in each of his four campaigns.

In his first year at the helm of the Viking golf program, Alan Cox was voted the conference Coach of the Year. His two Coach’s Awards went to Jake Sauer and Cody Roberts, both medalists at league matches during the season.

Union Pines finished fifth in the Mid-East Regional Tournament, missing the cut for state final competition by five strokes.

“My players are already working hard to be ready for next season,” said Cox. “They were upset we did not make the cut for states but remain determined to do well in conference play again and continue on to regional and state competition next year.

“What most strikes me about this group of fine young men is the hearts and focus they demonstrated throughout the season while competing at a high level out on the links.”

Contact F.W. Manning II at (910) 639-5481 or by e-mail at frankwm2@gmail.com