Creel, Daniel

A three-year letterman on the UNA men’s golf team from 2006-08, Daniel Creel helped lead the Lions to three straight NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament appearances where the Lions finished 14th in the nation in 2006, 12th in 2007 and tied for second in 2008. A Brooks High School graduate who placed in the top five, in the AHSAA golf tourney 1999-2001, before winning the individual state championship in 2002. He played his freshman season at the University of Alabama before transferring to UNA. At North Alabama, he was first-team All-Gulf South Conference in 2006 and 2007 and second-team All-GSC in 2008. He also earned All-South Region honors in 2007 and 2008 and was the GSC individual medalist in 2007 with a three-round, 210 total. Creel was selected first-team All-American in 2007 and honorable mention All-American in 2008. In his three NCAA Tournament appearances, he finished tied for 69th in 2006 (309), tied for 56th in 2007 (309) and tied for 17th in 2008 (284). As a team, the Lions won the 2007 South Region Championship, finished third in the region in 2006 and fourth in 2008. At the 2008 NCAA Championships, the Lions finished in a three-way tie in the final round with West Florida and St. Edwards and UWF eventually won the national title in a playoff. In all, Creel played in 28 total tournaments at UNA and had 17 Top 10 finishes, including taking medalist honors at the 2007 Bobcat Invitational and the 2007 GSC Championships. He was later named to the GSC Team of the Decade for 2000-09. After earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from UNA in 2008, Creel played professionally on the E Golf Tour in 2008 and then began teaching as a golf professional. He was inducted into UNA Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.