BUTLER TWP — No Stefan Carlsson? No problem.

Despite not having its All-American and No. 1 golfer available for the second day of the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference Championships Sunday, the Butler County Community College team cruised to its second consecutive league title.

The two-day, 36-hole tournament was held at The Links at Spring Church in Apollo.

“This is the deepest team I’ve had in my 10 years as coach,” Pioneers coach Bill Miller said. “It’s probably the best team I’ve had, too.”

With Carlsson, a Knoch graduate, leading the way Saturday, BC3 opened up a 12-stroke lead over second-place CCAC North. During the van ride to the course Sunday, Carlsson took ill.

The van made a stop and his mother picked him up.

“Stefan wound up going to the hospital and passing a kidney stone,” Miller said. “I was concerned with how his loss might affect us. But the rest of the guys went up there and played well.”

Knoch graduate and BC3 freshman Chris Kier earned medalist honors for the weekend with a 152. He shot 1-over-par 73 Sunday. Butler graduate Tommy Dimun and Mars grad Steve Adametz both shot 164. Both of them are freshmen as well.

“The temperature was around 40 and it was windy when we teed off,” Millersaid. “Shooting in the 80’s in that kind of weather was pretty good. The conditions were far from ideal.”

Jayce Corklin, a sophomore from Titusville, shot 167, including an 80 on Sunday. Andre Groff of Lancaster shot a 168, an 82 on Sunday. Adametz shot 82 on Sunday while Dimun shot an 84.

It all added up to a seven-stroke team victory on the second day and a 19-stroke victory overall. The Pioneers shot 639. CCAC North carded a 658.

“We did well over there,” Kier said. “We have a lot of good players and everyone rose to the occasion.

“I was teammates with Stefan in high school and I played against Tommy at Butler. I knew what kind of players they were when we all came (to BC3).”

Freshmen Alec Geibel of Butler and Thad Myers of Knoch round out the Pioneers’ golf team. Only six golfers per team were permitted to compete in the WPCC Championships.

All of the golfers figure to return this spring when BC3 tries to defend its region championship.

The team was unbeaten this fall season, which concludes with the state tournament in Chambersburg Sunday and Monday at the Penn National Golf Club.

The Pioneers don’t have organized team practices.

“We can’t do it because everyone’s schedule is so different,” Kier said. “It’s up to us as individuals to get out and practice when we can and stay on top of our games. I usually play nine or 18 holes with Stefan at St. Jude.”

Carlsson averaged 77 this season. Kier averaged 78. Adametz averaged 84, but lowered his score with each match during the fall.

“He started out with an 88 and finished the regular season with a 78,” Miller said. “These guys are all very dedicated to their game.”

That’s games in Kier’s case. He will play for the BC3 men’s basketball team this winter before returning to golf in the spring. A business administration major focusing on accounting, he plans to transfer to Westminster College next fall and play golf there.

Miller will still have five other freshmen possibly returning next year. The back-to-back conference titles are the first of his coaching career.

“I knew we’d have a nice team this year, but these guys were really consistent,” Miller said. “The fact that six of our eight players are local guys only add to how much fun this has been.”