EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men's Golf seniors Jason Bannister and Sam Vertanen were named to the Ohio Valley Conference's 2024-25 All-OVC teams on Saturday.
 
Bannister was named to the All-OVC First Team for his second All-OVC selection in his career, and Vertanen was named to the All-OVC Second Team for his first career All-OVC honor.
 
Bannister performed at another high level in 2024-25, averaging 70.96 strokes per round this season and one stroke better than his junior campaign. Through 10 events, the senior has a cumulative score of even par. Bannister has recorded 16 rounds below par with a season-low round of 66 at the SIUE Derek Dolenc Invitational in the fall, which is tied for the top-five best single round in USI history.
 
In the 10 events this year, Bannister has five top-10 finishes with four inside the top five. His best finishes were third place at the Wichita State University Grier Jones Shocker Invitational in the fall and at the Tennessee State University Big Blue Intercollegiate this spring. Bannister's 36-hole 138 (68, 70) at the UT Martin Grover Page Classic in the fall is a USI 36-hole record. The senior's three-round score of 208 (69, 71, 68) at the TSU Big Blue Intercollegiate tied a career best and tied for second-best in the USI record books.
 
At the end of the fall slate, Bannister earned his third career OVC Male Golfer of the Month award in October. Bannister received the accolade after his three-round score of 212 (68, 71, 73) and four-under-par total at WSU Grier Jones Shocker Invitational, contending for a Korn Ferry Tour invitation. Bannister also registered a top-10 finish at the Xavier University Invitational and a top-15 spot at the Kentucky Wesleyan College Bill Crabtree Invitational during October.
 
Bannister's current season average of 70.96 strokes per round and career average of 72.55 strokes per round are on pace to be new USI records.

Vertanen had a strong senior campaign as well, improving his per-round average by nearly two strokes from last year. Vertanen is averaging 72.57 strokes per round in 2024-25. Through 10 events this year, the senior has a cumulative score of one over par. Vertanen has 14 rounds under par this season. Vertanen's single-round low score in 2024-25 is 68, which he has achieved twice. Vertanen shot a 68 at the Grover Page Classic in the fall and just last week in the final round at the Wright State University Invitational.
 
In the 10 events this year, Vertanen has placed 20^th or better in five events, including three top-15 finishes during the spring schedule. Vertanen had his best finish in last week's WSU Invitational, placing sixth after a three-round score of 208 (70, 70, 68) and leading to being named OVC Male co-Golfer of the Week this past week. The 208 passed his previous 2024-25 best by four strokes, which he registered at the Bubba Barnett Intercollegiate in the fall. The 208 was also a USI career best for Vertanen, three strokes better than his previous career mark with the Screaming Eagles.
 
Vertanen's current season average of 72.57 strokes per round and USI career average of 73.30 strokes per round are on pace to be third and second, respectively, in the USI record books.
 
USI Men's Golf competes at the Ohio Valley Conference Championship this week, April 20-23, at Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The tournament will begin with stroke play before the top four teams after the final round of stroke play will battle it out in a match-play bracket for the championship. Last year, USI tied for fifth in the team competition held at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at the Shoals in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.