MACON, Ga. – The Atlantic Sun conference office released its 2012 Men's Golf All-Conference and All-Academic teams on Wednesday, with Mercer junior Thomas Holmes and sophomore James Beale among the award winners.  Beale landed a spot on the All-Conference second team while Holmes picked up an Academic All-Conference recognition.

Beale's team-best 72.8 scoring average powered the Auckland, New Zealand product to five top-20 finishes over the year and yielded his first career postseason award.  A red-hot finish to the season saw him place among the top-10 in his final four tournaments, highlighted by individual medalist honors at the Irish Creek Collegiate.

Beale's torrid stretch included 10 straight rounds of par or better golf and back-to-back A-Sun Golfer of the Week honors on March 28 and April 4.  At the conference championship, Beale opened play with a 1-under 71 and on his way to a tie for seventh place overall.

All told, Beale participated in all 10 of Mercer's tournaments this year and contributed his score to the team's total in all 29 of his rounds.  In those 29 rounds, he collected 90 birdies and an eagle.

Holmes played in eight of Mercer's 10 tournaments, and was voted an Academic All-Conference selection by virtue of a 3.914 GPA.  Holmes' biology major is catered to a pre-med track and he is set to graduate in the May of 2013.

Through eight events, Holmes posted a 76.7 scoring average and racked up 50 birdies.  His junior campaign was highlighted by a career-low 68 in the opening round of the Seminole Collegiate, where he went on to place in a tie for 40^th individually.

Holmes' best finish of the season came at the A-Sun Championship, where a three-day total of 233 positioned him 33^rd overall.