EL PASO, Texas – The field is finalized for the 2016 Sun Bowl Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic with the Sun Bowl Association and Western Refining announcing today that there are 21 of the nation’s top collegiate golfers making their way to the Sun City for the prestige tournament, which is scheduled for Friday through Sunday, Nov. 11-13 at the El Paso Country Club.
There are 12 All-Americans playing in this year’s tournament that are ranked amongst the top 100 amatuer golfers, according to World Amateur Golf Rankings. Among the top-ranked players are the following: UNLV senior John Oda (21), USC senior Rico Hoey (22), Arizona State senior Jared du Toit (29), Alabama sophomore Davis Riley (41), Vanderbilt sophomore Will Gordon (43), Vanderbilt sophomore Patrick Martin (57), LSU sophomore Sam Burns (66), Oklahoma State senior Stranton Nolen (67), Kentucky junior Tyler McDaniel (86), Oklahoma senior Max McGreevy (97) and LSU sophomore Luis Gagne (100).
The 2016 All-America field also includes the 2016 Jack Nicklaus Award winner as the NCAA Division II National Player-of-the-Year, the 2016 LSWA Louisiana Freshman of the Year, the 2016 Mountain West Men’s Golfer of the Year, a former two-time Hawai’i state champion and a former Kentucky State Amateur Champion and a three-time GCAA All-American, GCAA All-West Region and All-Pac-12 first team performer.
USC senior Rico Hoey, who finished tied for second in 2014 and tied for seventh in 2015, is returning for one last chance at the Lee Trevino Trophy. He is the 19th student-athlete to compete in three College All-America Golf Classics.
“What I like about the tournament is that you get to play with the other guys who got All-American awards. Those guys are the best and I love competing with the best.” said Hoey. “What I like about El Paso is that we all get the opportunity to win an exclusive event that not many can play but also the people we meet there are incredible.”
Along with the opportunity to compete against the best-of-the-best from the collegiate level, each university represented at the Western Refining College All-Americans will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
“Western is proud to again team with the Sun Bowl Association to welcome college golf’s most elite players in the country to El Paso,” said Jeff Stevens, President and CEO of Western Refining. “For over 40 years, this tournament has showcased the best college golfers to our city. The alumni of this tournament are now the legends of the PGA Tour and this week El Pasoans will have the chance to see the future legends of golf perform at El Paso Country Club.”
The Sun Bowl Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic is one of the premier college golf tournaments in the country. Some of golf’s brightest stars have traveled to El Paso to compete in the tournament since its inaugural year in 1976.
“This tournament has become a pillar here in El Paso and in the golf community,” said Tournament Chairman Gary Hanson. “The rich history of this tournament is a testament to the quality of our alumni that seem to win a PGA Tour event every week, and we are excited about the participants for this year’s tournament. It will be another exciting conclusion to the fall college schedule.”
Jordan Spieth, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Davis Love III, Ricky Barnes, Notah Begay and Jerry Pate are just a handful of past participants who went on to have successful PGA careers. College All-America Golf Classic Alumni have combined to win 50 majors championships and have earned over $1.8 billion in career earnings.
To be eligible for competition student-athletes must have been named as an All-America team honoree during the previous year as well the U.S. Amateur Champion or Runner Up who still have collegiate eligibility. The event is free and open to the public.
2016 Schedule
Friday (Nov. 11)
• 9 a.m. Titleist Long Drive
• 10 a.m. PING Putting Contest
Saturday (Nov. 12)
• 8 a.m. First & Second Rounds
Sunday (Nov. 13)
• 8 a.m. Final Round
Lee Trevino Trophy presentation to the winner immediately following final round.
2016 Sun Bowl Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic Field
Sam Burns – Louisiana State University
Sophomore – Honorable Mention All-American
Burns committed to LSU as the nation’s No. 1 golf recruit in the U.S. according to Golfweek Junior Golf Rankings and Polo Junior Golf Rankings … As one of the most decorated junior golfers in Louisiana history, Burns earned victories at several events … In high school, he won the 2012 LHSAA Division IV state championship, two back-to-back LHSAA Division III state championships, and pushed Calvary Baptist Academy to five straight state team titles … Burns really broke through in 2014, a year in which he was honored as the AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year … He also won the 2014 AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions at Richland Country Club in Nashville, Tenn. carding record-breaking 21-under par 267 … Burns followed that by winning the 2014 Junior PGA Championship in Bryan, Texas … The U.S. defeated the Europeans 16-8. Burns qualified for the 2014 U.S. Amateur and reached the round of 32 at the Atlanta Athletic Club … During his freshman year at LSU (2015-16), Burns competed in 12 events, finishing in the top 25 in 10 of them … He helped the Tigers reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships, where they lost to Oregon, the eventual champions … He finished the 2015-16 campaign as the No. 35-ranked player nationally in Golfstat’s final individual player rankings … Also the No. 55-ranked player in college golf in the final individual player rankings released by Golfweek following the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships… Honored as a PING Honorable Mention All-American by the Golf Coaches Association of America … Also picked up a PING All-Southeast Region selection … Burns has made two appearances on the PGA Tour, both in 2015, at the Valero Texas Open and the FedEx St. Jude Classic, but failed to make the cut … His father, Todd, and brother, Chase, played college football at Louisiana Tech.
Ryan Cole – James Madison University
Junior – Honorable Mention All-American
2016 Honorable Mention PING All-American, CAA Golfer of the Year, VaSID State Golfer of the Year and Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-American Scholar … 2015 VaSID Second Team All-State … 2016 and 2015 First Team All-CAA after being named 2014 Second Team All-CAA … Career lows of 64 (single round), 146 (36 holes) and 202 (54 holes) … Has 12 top-15 and 19 top-30 finishes in his career … Tied for 2nd at 14-under in the 2016 NCAA Franklin Regional to qualify for the Division I National Championships … As a sophomore in 2015 Had four top-10 and six top-20 placings … Won his first collegiate tournament at the Bash at the Beach Invitational with a career-best 8-under 205, earning him CAA Golfer of the Week … … In 2012, while in high school, was the medalist at the AJGA Peninsula Junior Classic and was runner-up in both the AJGA Erie Junior Golf Classic and the AJGA William Penn Junior Championship … Son of Randy and Leslie Cole … Majoring in finance at JMU.
John Coultas – Florida Southern
Junior – Honorable Mention All-American
2016 Jack Nicklaus Award winner as the NCAA Division II National Player-of-the-Year… All-Nicklaus Team… PING/GCAA All-America First-Team… PING/GCAA All-South Region Team… Sunshine State Conference Male Athlete-of-the-Year… SSC Golfer-of-the-Year… First Team All-SSC… SSC Golfer-of-the-Week for March 21… CoSIDA Second Team Academic All-American… CoSIDA Academic All-District… NCAA Division II Academic Achievement Award winner… SSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll… Hal Smeltzly Award winner as Florida Southern’s Male Athlete-of-the-Year… Team MVP for the second year in a row… Played in all 11 tournaments, one of three Moccasins to do so (John VanDerLaan and Jimmy Jones were the others)… The Moccasins’ top golfer in eight of those tournaments… Led the Moccasins with a 71.17 stroke average, which was the lowest for a Moccasin since Jeff Klauk set the school record of 70.71 during the 1999-2000 season, and was the second lowest on record by any Moccasin golfer in the program’s history… 2015 PING/GCAA All-America First-Team… 2015 Phil Mickelson Award recipient as Most Outstanding Freshman in Division II… 2015 PING/GCAA All-Freshman Team… 2015 PING/GCAA All-South Region Team… 2015 SSC All-Tournament Team… 2015 All-SSC Second Team… 2015 SSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll… 2015 Team MVP… 2014 graduate of Newsome High School in Lithia, Florida… Was a four-year lettermen in golf at NHS… two-time First-Team All-County selection as a junior and senior… Was a four-time state qualifier… Son of Doug and Lisa Coultas … Major: Business Administration… Enrolled in the Honors College at Florida Southern.
Jared du Toit – Arizona State University
Senior – Honorable Mention All-American
Garnered a top-10 finish at the 2016 RBC Canadian Open, hosted at Glenn Abbey Golf Club … Collected a 72-hole total 9-under 279 (67-71-70-71), to earn low-amateur honors becoming the first Canuck Amateur to record a top-10 finish at Canada’s coveted championship since Doug Bajus in 1954 … Followed up a great junior season (2015-16) with a win at the Glencoe Invitational champion, earning medalist honors on June 18 Glencoe’s Forest Course … The 21-year-old du Toit carded a three-round tally of 2-over 218, two shots better than Calgary’s Emmett Oh (Bearspaw) [It was a tough tournament, as 61 golfers combined for three times as many bogeys (992) as birdies (326)] … Earned GCAA and Golfweek Honorable Mention All-America honors in 2015-16 with five top-10 finishes … Transferred to ASU from Idaho after his sophomore season … Best ASU outing helped Sun Devils clinch the Albuquerque Regional on May-16-18, as he tied for fifth with a 4-over 220 (74-72-73-75) … Finished the year with a 71.66 scoring average with 11 of 41 rounds in the 60s and 20 of them at par or better … Also posted top-10 finishes at the Alister MacKenzie Invitational, the Amer Air Invitational, Prestige at PGA West and Lamkin Grips.Raised in Kimberley, B.C., du Toit is a first-year selectee to Golf Canada’s national amateur squad and currently the top Canuck in the world amateur golf rankings … Won the 2015 British Columbia Amateur Title … Spent two seasons under head coach John Means at the University of Idaha … As a freshman he saw action 11 tournaments for the Vandals posting three top-10 finishes including a second-place finish at the Phoenix Desert Classic in Goodyear, AZ … earned first-team all-Western Athletic Conference and Freshman of the Year Honors … Sophomore (2014-15): Led the Vandals in scoring (69.61) posting three first-place finishes including a win at the Big Sky Conference Championship.
Luis Gagne – Louisiana State University
Sophomore – Honorable Mention All-American
2016 PING Honorable Mention All-American … 2016 Golfweek Honorable Mention All-American … 2016 PING All-Southeast Region … 2016 LSWA Louisiana Freshman of the Year … 2016 LSWA First-Team All-Louisiana … One of the top players in college golf during his freshman season while finishing the 2015-16 campaign as the No. 33-ranked player nationally in the final individual player rankings released by Golfstat and Golfweek … Earned Honorable Mention All-America honors from both PING and Golfweek for his outstanding performance … Also picked up a PING All-Southeast Region selection … Honored by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association as the Louisiana Freshman of the Year and a First-Team All-Louisiana performer … Made seven tournament appearances in his debut season with the Tigers, including six starts during the 2016 spring season … A catalyst in the Tigers advancing to match play at the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships for the third-straight season … Matched fellow freshman Sam Burns as the top Tigers in stroke play at the NCAA Championships, tying for 13th place with a final score of 4-over par 284 in 72 holes played at Eugene (Ore.) Country Club … Halved his NCAA quarterfinal match with Oregon’s Thomas Lim as the Tigers fell, 3.5-1.5, to the eventual national champions … One of the Top 20 high school recruits in the United States in the Class of 2015 … Ranked as high as the No. 16-ranked recruit nationally in the Class of 2015 in the National Junior Golf Scoreboard Boys Rankings on National Signing Day … Also tabbed the No. 17-ranked recruit nationally in the Polo Junior Golf Rankings and the No. 22-ranked recruit nationally in the Golfweek Junior Golf Rankings for the Class of 2015 … Full name is Luis Gerardo Gagne … Originally from Costa Rica … Parents are Michael and Graciela Gagne … Plans to major in either business or accounting at LSU.
Will Gordon – Vanderbilt
Sophomore – Honorable Mention All-American
2016 SEC First Year Academic Honor Roll … 2016 SEC All-Freshman Team … As a freshman, Gordon played in 34 stroke-play rounds and averaged 70.88 strokes per round … Named to the All-SEC 2nd Team and the All-Freshman Team, and also to the U.S. Palmer Cup team, the only freshman named to the American team … Tied for first at the Schenkel Invitational (67-73-63), which included a final round 63 … Also posted a final-round 63 at the SunTrust Gator Invitational … Has had seven top 10 finishes this season – the Carmel Cup (T-10th), the Tavistock Collegiate Invitational (T-4th), the SunTrust Gator Invitational (6th), the Schenkel Invitational (T-1st), the Mason Rudolph Championship (T-4th), and the NCAA Franklin Regional (T-9th) … Had a 3-0 record in match play in regular season, defeating Jimmy Stangler of Virginia (2 & 1) at the DICK’s Collegiate Challenge Cup, and Vince Whaley of Georgia Tech (4 & 3) and Ben Schlottman of Auburn (3 & 2) at the FarmLinks Collegiate Match Play … Posted 10 rounds in the 60’s … His 63 tied a league-low this season with Florida’s Sam Horsfield, but was only player in the SEC with two rounds of 63 … Prior to joining Vanderbilt Gordon was ranked as the number one ranked junior golfer in the state of North Carolina for the late part of 2013 and the first half of 2014 after finishing in the top 10 in six junior tournaments … Member of the 2015 NCISAA State Championship team … In 2013, Gordon made the round of 32 at the U.S. Junior Amateur, and in 2014, he made it to sectional qualifying for the U.S. Open … A 2013 AJGA Rolex All-America honorable mention selection, he was also a standout for his Cannon School team … Was a two-time Charlotte Observer Cabarrus News Player of the Year and a two-time NCISAA All-State team member, and holds his high school’s record for 18 holes (66) and nine holes (30) … Son of Norman and Sally Gordon … Undecided on Major … Recipient of the Loomis Family Golf Scholarship.
Rico Hoey – University of Southern California (USC)
Senior – Second Team All-American
Three-time GCAA All-American, GCAA All-West Region and All-Pac-12 first team performer who has been instrumental in the Trojans’ regular-season and post-season success the past three years … Hoey led the Trojans with a career-best 70.85 stroke average and also topped the team with 14 rounds in the 60s and nine top 10s as a 2016 junior, earning GCAA All-American second team honors, GCAA All-West Region and All-Pac-12 first team honors … He capped the season by taking second at the 2016 NCAA Championships at 3-under 277 (70-69-69-69), USC’s highest finish since Jamie Lovemark won the title in 2007 … The second-place finish was also his sixth top 5 of the season and 11th in the top 20 … He was fifth at The Prestige at PGA West at 6-under 207 (68-71-68), was a team-best tied for fifth at the U.S. Collegiate Championship at 5-under 211 (70-70-71), tied for seventh at the Sun Bowl Western Refining College All-America at even 213 (65-76-72) … Hoey led USC at the Pac-12 Championships, tying for 11th at even 284 (70-70-72-72) … He split his two matches at the East Lake Cup Championship Match Play, including a 3&2 win over LSU’s Zach Wright … Hoey had a streak of eight straight rounds of 72 or better earlier this year, including the first seven rounds of the spring season … During the summer of 2016, Hoey won the 117th annual SCGA Amateur Championships title by four strokes at 19-under 269 (66-70-66-67) and also played in the U.S. Amateur … As a 2015 sophomore, earned GCAA PING All-American honorable mention, GCAA All West Region and All-Pac-12 first team honors … He was second on the team with a 70.86 stroke average, 18 rounds in the 60s and six top 5 finishes, led by a second place at the Bill Cullum Invitational at 12-under 204 (65-67-72), a tie for second at the Western Refining College All-America at 7-under 206 (69-66-71) and a third at the Itani Quality Homes Collegiate at 5-under 205 (66-65-74) … He tied for 43rd at the NCAA Championships, providing two counter rounds to help USC qualify for the match play playoff … He won his quarterfinal match, 2&1, over Texas’ Doug Gihm and defeated Illinois’ Charlie Danielson, 2&1, in the semifinals … He dropped his match in the NCAA final to LSU’s Brandon Pierce, 2&1 … He carded a 74 as one of 14 collegiate players that competed in the inaugural Northern Trust Open Collegiate Showcase on Feb. 16 at the Riviera C.C. He tied for sixth in the 14-player field … Hoey just missed a spot in the U.S. Amateur match play field, falling in the third hole of a multi-player playoff … He tied for 22nd at the Players Amateur … Hoey put together one of the top seasons in Trojan golf history as a 2014 freshman, leading USC in stroke average (71.36), top 10 finishes (eight), rounds in the 60s (16), birdies (165) and eagles (eight) en route to 2014 GCAA All-American third team, All-West Region and All-Pac-12 first team honors while being tabbed the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year … A 2014 Palmer Cup pick, Hoey’s 16 rounds in the 60s and his 26 rounds of par or better were the most since Jamie Lovemark’s 20 and 27, respectively, during his 2007 freshman season … Hoey’s eight top 10s were actually all top 7 or better, including six in the top 5 … He led USC in the fall with a 70.91 stroke average in four tournaments, scoring his first collegiate win in the final fall event with an 8-under 202 (68-66-68) at the Gifford Collegiate and becoming the first Trojan to post three consecutive sub-70 rounds since 2012 … Hoey, who at one point had four straight top 5 results this year as well as a streak of seven consecutive rounds in the 60s, had back-to-back second-places at The Goodwin at 8-under 202 (66-69-67) and at the Lamkin Grips San Diego Classic at 9-under 207 (71-69-67) … He also tied for third at the Western Intercollegiate at 4-under 206 (68-68-70), tied for fourth at the U.S. Collegiate Championship at 4-under 212 (70-71-71), took fifth at the Jones Invitational at 5-over 221 (74-73-74), tied for sixth at the NCAA Sugar Grove Regional at 4-over 220 (75-70-75) … Hoey attended Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) High, where he concluded his career as a standout prep and junior player by capturing the 2013 CIF Southern Section Boys’ Golf individual title with a 3-under 69 to go with four league titles … In his final action before enrolling at USC, Hoey advanced to the match-play portion of the 2013 U.S. Amateur by tying for 20th in stroke play at 141 (73-68) … He lost in the first round of match play … Also in 2013, he tied for seventh in the Junior America’s Cup and took fourth at the Callaway Junior World Championship … Hoey won the 2012 Callaway Junior World Championship and the 2012 Junior America’s Cup and finished seventh at the 2012 California State Open … He was ranked the No. 14 overall recruit in the class of 2012 … He is a history major.
Franklin Huang – Stanford
Junior – Honorable Mention All-American
During the 2014-15 season, Huang played in nine events (28 rounds) … 72.36 scoring average … Low round: 66 (The Gifford – 3) … Low tournament: 210 (The Gifford) … Best finish: tie-eighth (The Gifford) … Tied for 54th at United States Collegiate Championships (73-74-75, 222, +6) … Tied for eighth at Gifford Collegiate Championship (73-71-66, 210, -3) … Before joining Stanford, Huang placed first at the 2014 California Junior Amateur Championship … First at 2014 CIF San Diego Section … First at 2013 Southern California PGA Toyota Tour Cup Tour Championship … First at 2012 AJGA Junior Championship … Prepped at Rancho Bernardo (Calif.) … Tied for 13th at 2012 Callaway Junior World Golf Championship … Tied for eighth at 2012 Junior America’s Cup … 2012 AJGA All-America … 2012 Rolex All-America … 2012 Rancho Bernardo Player of the Year … Two-time first team all-CIF San Diego … Led team to second at 2013 CIF San Diego … School-record three consecutive SoCal Regional appearances … 2013 HP Scholastic All-America … National Merit Scholar … Rancho Bernardo Scholar-Athlete Award … Son of Tina Mai and Gordon Huang.
Charles Kim – Arkansas
Sophomore – Honorable Mention All-American
Finished his freshman year with a 73.5 stroke average over 27 rounds … Earned PING All-America honorable mention honors from the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) … Carded 17 counting scores over nine events … Tallied 77 birdies and shot under-par five times … Made his collegiate debut at the Sea Best Invitational with rounds of 72-72-73/217 to finish T-23rd … Recorded one top-10 finish with a ninth place showing at the SEC Championship … Shot a season-low 68 on the second day of the NCAA Championships … Completed his high school career at Cedar Park High School as the No. 24 player on the Junior Golf Scoreboard … Ranked No. 28 by GolfWeek following his senior year … Was the No. 18 signee for 2015 according to Brentley Romine of GolfWeek … Won the 2013 Bluebonnet Championship in Brownwood, Texas, as part of the Legends Junior Tour … Attended the University of Texas for the fall 2015 semester, before transferring to Arkansas.
Patrick Martin – Vanderbilt
Sophomore – Honorable Mention All-American
2016 SEC First Year Academic Honor Roll … During the 2015-16 season, Martin played in 34 stroke-play rounds and averaged 71.18 strokes per round… Named to the All-SEC 2nd Team and the All-Freshman Team…Carded five top 10 finishes – the Carmel Cup (T-4th), the SunTrust Gator Invitational (T-3rd), the Schenkel Invitational (T-7th), the Mason Rudolph Championship (T-10th), and the NCAA Franklin Regional (T-9th)…Posted 10 rounds in the 60’s this season, including all three rounds at the SunTrust Gator Invitational…Posted a season-low 66 in the final round of the SunTrust Gator…Was 3-0 in match play in regular season, defeating Danny Walker of Virginia (4 & 3) at the DICK’s Collegiate Challenge Cup, and Travis Joiner of Georgia Tech (5 & 4) and Michael Johnson of Auburn, the eighth-ranked player in the nation, (6 & 5) at the FarmLinks Collegiate Match Play … Prior to joining Vanderbilt, Martin was ranked as the 19th player in the class of 2015 at the time of his signing…Won the Alabama State Match Play Championship in the summer of 2015…Was the 7A Individual State Champion for the state of Alabama in 2015…Was a 2013 Rolex All American Honorable Mention selection and captured two AJGA events, the 2013 NRP Bluegrass AJGA Junior Classic Championship and the 2014 Huntsville AJGA Junior Championship…Represented the USA in the 2013 USA – China youth golf match and went 3-0 in his matches…Was a finalist for the AJGA/ USGA Presidential Leadership award in 2013 and 2014 … Son of Greg and Christine Martin … Plans to major in Economics…Recipient of the Bronson Ingram Men’s Golf Scholarship.
Tyler McDaniel – Kentucky
Junior – Honorable Mention All-American
A 2016 PING Third-Team All-America selection … 2016 All-SEC second-team member … Started in all 11 tournaments for the Wildcats … Posted six top-10 finishes including a runner-up finish at the SEC Championship and fourth at the NCAA Regional … Claimed the individual title at the Grove Intercollegiate … UK’s top finisher at the NCAA Championships with a tie for 26th … Led the team with a 71.76 stroke average … Turned in 20 rounds of par-or-better play … Tied for fourth at the Invitational at the Ocean Course to begin a fall season where he placed in the top five in all four events … Tied for fifth at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Collegiate Challenge Cup which included an opening-round of 66 to begin the tournament … Was the runner-up at the Crooked Stick Intercollegiate highlighted by back-to-back rounds of 67 … Won the Intercollegiate at the Grove with rounds of 69 and 70 … Posted rounds of 68, 72 and 69 for a 1-under score at the SEC Championship … Started 11 tournaments for the Wildcats’ in his freshman campaign and ranked second on the team with a 72.12 stroke average … Notched 17 par or better rounds over 33 total rounds played, which ranked second on the squad … Earned All-SEC Freshman team honors after leading the Wildcats with an 11th place finish at the SEC Championships … Was selected as an individual participant at the NCAA Lubbock Regional … Had six total top-20 finishes and placed in the top 10 on two occasions … Captured the individual crown at the Quail Valley Collegiate Invitational with an 11-under par final score marking the first win of the season for any UK player … Fired rounds of 67, 70 and 71 at the SEC Championships … In high school, McDaniel was named the 2013 National PGA Junior Champion with scores of 70-70-65-69 … Also captured the 2013 Kentucky State Amateur Champion (68-67-68), where he won by six shots to tie the tournament record … Named the 2013 Kentucky Junior Amateur Champion for three straight years … Posted four consecutive top five finishes at the Kentucky High School state tournament and is a three-time KGA-PGA Junior Player of the Year … The 2011 Mr. Golf of Kentucky registered a scoring average of 69.8 during his senior season … Recorded his low round of 65 on three different occasions … Also a standout on the hardwood, where he was named First Team All-State and the 13th Region MVP … Helped lead the basketball team to a regional championship … In the classroom, McDaniel earned Academic All-State honors each year of high school and carried a 4.0 GPA … Son of Todd and Jennifer McDaniel … Major is accounting.
Max McGreevy – Oklahoma
Senior – Third Team All-American
Named to the 2016 Division I PING All-America Third Team … Competed in all 13 team events, serving as a team captain as a junior … Claimed his first career win at the Gopher Invitational, setting a career-low 54-hole score, 206 (-7) … Set a career-low round, 66, in the final round of the Gopher Invitational and matched it three more times throughout the season, including the final round of NCAA Championships stroke play … Earned nine top-20 and five top-10 finishes … Also tallied four top-five finishes, the most by any Sooner since the 2004-05 season … Alongside teammate Brad Dalke, finished tied for 26th place in the NCAA Championships to lead the Sooners to match play for the first time in school history … Posted a team-best 72.13 (0.68) scoring average … Selected to the 10-member 2016 All-Big 12 team … Named to the 2016 All-Central Region team by the Golf Coaches Association of America … Placed on the 2016 Academic All-Big 12 first team … Named to Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll … As a sophomore during the 2014-15 season, McGreevy competed in 12 of OU’s 13 team events, missing Big 12 Championship with an injury … Tallied a 72.67 (1.17) scoring average, second best on team … Along with Michael Gellerman, led the squad with three top-five finishes … Placed within the top 10 four times and top 20 five times … Concluded season ranked No. 71 by Golfweek … Recorded eight rounds in 60s, tied for most on the team … Finished in a career-best tie for second place at NCAA San Diego Regional with a three-round 208 (-8) to help the Sooners to a 20-stroke victory … Started the season with a tie for fourth place at Carmel Cup … Tied for 51st place at NCAA Championships, carding a 54-hole 222 (6) … During the 2013-14 season, as a freshman, McGreevy competed in all 13 of OU’s team events, playing 40 rounds … Finished with a 74.03 (2.70) scoring average … Earned Big 12 Men’s Golfer of the Month honors for September after being highest finisher for Sooners in first two tournaments … Led the Sooners at the Golfweek Conference Challenge with a three-round 213 (-3) and career-best fifth-place finish in his first collegiate tournament … Tied for 32nd at NCAA Eugene Regional in Eugene, Ore., and 89th at NCAA Championships in Hutchinson, Kan. … In high school, McGreevy was a
two-time Oklahoma Class 6A State Golf Champion (2012, 2013) … Team earned Academic State Champions title … Parents: Brian and Sherry McGreevy … Brother: Tanner… Major: administrative leadership
Nahum Mendoza III – San Diego State University
Senior – Honorable Mention All-American
Quickly blossomed into one of SDSU’s all-time greats, earning second-team PING All-America honors after finishing the year with a No. 31 individual ranking by Golfstat … Also received third-team All-America recognition from Golfweek and was an all-West Region selection … Led the team with a 71.18 scoring average, posting 21 rounds at or below par, including 12 in the 60s … Collected Mountain West Men’s Golfer of the Year honors, becoming the fifth Aztec player n school history to receive such distinction … Logged seven top-10 finishes this season, including four in the top five … A Jack Nicklaus Award semifinalist … As a sophomore, Mendoza III garnered all-Mountain West accolades for the first time in his career … Ranked fourth on the squad with a 73.13 scoring average … Logged five top-20 performances, including a trio of top 10s … Totaled seven rounds in the 60s, which ranked second on the team … Also tallied six even-par efforts … During his freshman year, Mendoza III earned his first varsity letter … Ranked fourth among Aztec regulars with a 74.50 stroke average, posting two top-10 finishes … Totaled seven rounds below par and three rounds in the 60s … Prior to playing for SDSU, Mendoza III graduated in 2013 from Francis Parker School where he received first-team all-CIF San Diego Section honors following his junior and senior campaigns … Finished second at the 2012 San Diego Junior Masters after falling on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff at Carlton Oaks Country Club … Also took fourth at the AJGA Junior Challenge at Oak Valley Golf Club in Beaumont, Calif. … Mendoza III is pursuing a degree in communications.
Stratton Nolen – Oklahoma State
Senior – Honorable Mention All-American
Named a 2016 third-team All-American by Golfweek magazine … Also received 2016 honorable mention All-America recognition from the GCAA … Named an 2016 all-region selection as well … Named a 2016 first-team All-Big 12 pick … Earned his first victory at the Big 12 Championship … Was named the Big 12 Golfer of the Month following the win … Carded rounds of 71, 73, 68 and 70 for a 6-under 282 score … Finished third at the NCAA Stillwater Regional … Opened with a 68 en route to a 2-over 218 total … Tied for 26th place at the NCAA Championship with a 287 score.
As a redshirt freshman during the 2014-15 season, Nolen made four starts on the year … As an amateur, Nolen won the 2014 Texas State Public Links Championship with a 2-and-1 victory over Will Griffin in the title match … Was the runner-up at the 2014 Texas Amateur Championship after carding a 7-under total of 277 … Named the recipient of the 2013 Byron Nelson International Junior Golf Award … Won the Texas 5A UIL State Championship in 2012 … Posted rounds of 71 and 69 for a 140 total before winning the event on the first playoff hole … Carded rounds of 72 and 68 to win the PGA Junior Series at The Quarry in 2012 … Was runner-up in 2011 at the Signsational Signs Junior at The Woodlands … Was named the Legends Junior Tour Player of the Year in 2010, 2011 and 2012 … Won the 2010 Firecracker Open and was the event’s runner-up in 2012 … Won the 2011 Texas State Junior Championship … Posted a 5-under 208 to finish second at the 2012 HP Byron Nelson Junior Championship … Won the 2010 Stars of Texas Junior All-Star with a 206 score that included rounds of 68, 71 and 67 … Is the son of Breck and Beatsy Nolen
John Oda – UNLV
Senior – Second All-American
Recipient of the Mountain West Scholar-Athlete Award and member of the Academic All-MW team … Also made the Dean’s Honor List … Named honorable mention All-America and selected to the PING All-West Region team … Was the MW Freshman of the Year and also earned All-MW honors … Named the 2015 Earl E. Wilson Most Valuable Player, which is given annually to the top player on the squad … Played in 12 tournaments, totaling 36 rounds … Recorded nine top-20 finishes, including seven top-10s and four top-fives … Shot par or better 20 times … He won his first career tournament at the Sea Best Invitational and placed second on two occasions – at the John Burns Intercollegiate and the Jackrabbit Invitational … Shot 12 rounds in the 60s, including a career-low 64 on three occasions, setting the UNLV freshman record for low round … The 64s also tied for the second-lowest round in Rebel golf history … His 54-hole total of 198 at the Jackrabbit is tied for the third- lowest score in program history, while his 199 at The Goodwin is tied for fifth … He led the Rebels in scoring average with 71.11, which is the fourth-lowest seasonal average in program history and lowest by a freshman, shattering the old mark by 1.44 shots per round … During the summer of 2015, he played in the USGA Amateur Championship, the Western Amateur, the Sahalee Players Championship and he was selected to represent the USGA at Carnoustie in Scotland at The (British) Amateur Championship … He tied for 10th at the Sahalee Players Championship and made the round of 36 at The Amateur Championship … A 2014 graduate of Moanalua High School in Honolulu, Hawaii … Was the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Individual State Champion in 2012 and 2014 … Was the 2012 and 2013 Hawaii State Amateur Champion … Set the tournament record in 2013 at 19-under … Was the low amateur at the 2012 Hawaii Pearl Open … The son of Jay and Emiko Oda … Majoring in political science
Michael Perras – Houston
Junior – Honorable Mention All-American
2015-16 PING All-All-America Honorable Mention … 2015-16 PING All-Central Region Team … 2015-16 All-American Athletic Conference Team … 2016 NCAA Franklin Regional Individual Champion … 2015 HBU Husky Intercollegiate Individual Champion … 2014 U.S. Amateur Championship Participant … 2015-16 American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team … Made his 2015-16 season debut at the HBU Husky Intercollegiate … Became only the fourth player in school history to post a 63 with his total in the First Round … Posted a score of 16-under-par 200 at the NCAA Franklin Regional to earn medalist honors … Became the fourth Cougar in program history to win an NCAA Regional individual title … In 2014-15, Perras made his collegiate debut at the season-opening Northern Intercollegiate … Tied for 32nd with a score of 229 … Fired back-to-back 70s to tie for third at 140 at the Miramont Invitational … Tied for 16th at the Royal Oaks Intercollegiate with a score of 219 to rank second among the Cougars … Son of Debi and Rick Perras … Grandfather, Fred Marti, competed for Houston Men’s Golf from 1961 to 1963 and was a member of the Cougars’ 1962 NCAA national championship team under legendary Head Coach Dave Williams … Majoring in business.
William Rainey – Charleston
Senior – Honorable Mention All-American
2016 Division I PING All-America honorable mention … 2016 Division I PING All-Region selection … 2016 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship Individual Finalist
2016 Colonial Athletic Association Individual Champion and Most Outstanding Player … 2016 All-CAA First Team and CAA All-Academic Team selection … Two-Time CAA All-Tournament Team selection (2014 and 2016) … Ranked second all-time in single-season scoring average (71.69) … Was ranked as high as No. 60 in the nation during the 2015-16 season … Tied for first all-time in single-season tournament wins (2) with former CofC greats Jack Boeckx (1996-97) and Bruce McDonald (2002-03) … Became the first men’s golfer in school history and second in CAA history to make the cut for the final day of individual play at the 2016 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships in Eugene, Ore. … Tied for 51st with rounds of 72, 68, 71 and 80 (+11) … 2016 NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional low individual carding rounds of 71, 70 and 68 to finish at 7-under par for the tournament and became first player in school history to advance to nationals as an individual … Carded a 5-under par 211 with rounds of 71-69-71 to be crowned the CAA Men’s Golf individual champion becoming the fifth all-time player in school history to win a conference individual title next to Daniel Brunson (2002), Bruce McDonald (2003), Josh Lorenzetti (2013) and John Jonas (2015) … Prior to joining COFC, Rainey was ranked as high as No. 16 in the country in the Class of 2013 and was the No. 1 ranked player in the state of North Carolina in the Fall of 2012 … Named First Team Boys’ All-State by the Carolinas Golf Association/Tar Heel Youth Golf Foundation … Shot a career-low round of 66 at the 2012 Joe Cheves Junior Invitational … Rainey is the son of Richard and Julia Rainey … Sociology major at College of Charleston … Qualified for the 2015 U.S. Amateur Championship at Olympia Fields … Won the Rice Planters Amateur in the summer of 2015 … Featured nationally for his trick-shot videos on Vine.
Davis Riley – Alabama
Sophomore – Honorable Mention All-American
Coming off a stellar summer season in which he reached the semifinals of match play at the 2016 Western Amateur Championship … Also competed at the 2016 U.S. Amateur Championship in August … Came to Alabama after a stellar junior career … Named the 2014-15 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Boys Golf Player of the Year … Ranked No. 3 in Golfweek’s ranking and No. 6 in the American Junior Golf Association’s (AJGA) rankings … Qualified for the 2015 U.S. Open after placing eighth in the 36-hole U.S. Open sectional qualifying tournament … Was one of 10 golfers to qualify from the sectional tournament and finished tied with two-time U.S. Open champion and seven-time PGA Tour victor Retief Goosen at 6-under par 136 (69-67) … Also competed at the 2015 U.S. Amateur Championship and was one of 64 golfers who advanced to the match play portion … Represented the United States at the 2015 Junior Ryder Cup Championship in Perthsire, England, helping the U.S. defeat England, 16-8 … Before joining Alabama, Riley played at Presbyterian Christian High School in Hattiesburg, Miss. … Named by USA Today as the 2014-15 All-USA Boys Golf Player of the Year … Won the state title four straight years, including shooting a 9-under par 63 to take individual honors by a six-stroke margin his senior season … Named as a recipient of the Byron Nelson International Junior Golf Award, which recognizes junior golf’s top performing athletes who demonstrate strong character, consistent sportsmanship, a commendable academic background as well as a commitment to serving others … At 17, he became the youngest player to ever win the prestigious Terra Cotta Invitational … Joined Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth as the only golfers to appear in the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship in back-to-back years where he finished runner-up both times … A two-time AJGA First Team All-America (2014 and 2015) … As a sophomore in 2013, he finished inside the top 30 in every AJGA event he played and made it to the final match at the U.S. Junior … Riley is the son of David and Kim Riley … Major is business.
Justin Suh – University of Southern California
Sophomore – Honorable Mention All-American
Suh, as a 2016 freshman, earned GCAA PING All-American honorable mention and Pac-12 All-Freshman honors … He finished third on the team with a stroke average of 72.57, had eight rounds in the 60s, two top 10s and six top 20s, including a tie for 10th at the NCAA Championships at 3-over 283 (68-67-75-73) … He posted a season-best tie for eighth at the Western Intercollegiate at 1-under 209 (67-74-68), tied for 19th at the Pac-12 Championships at 4-over 288 (70-69-71-78) and tied for 17th at the NCAA Albuquerque Regional at 10-over 226 (73-80-73) … His fall action was topped by a tie for 39th at the Nike Golf Collegiate Invitational at par 215 (67-71-77) … He split his two matches at the East Lake Cup Championship Match Play, including a 5&3 win over LSU’s Nathan Jeansonne … After the season, Suh played as an amateur in the 2016 U.S. Open … He missed the cut by three strokes, finishing 36 holes at 8-over 148 (75-73) … Suh also played in the 2016 U.S. Amateur, tying for fourth in stroke play at 4-under 136 (68-68) before falling 1up in the round of 64 … Suh, who prepped at Evergreen Valley High in San Jose, Calif., is a rare a four-time qualifier for the USGA Junior Amateur who came to USC with a handful of big wins on his resume … Among the few who have qualified four times for the USGA Junior Amateur are PGA stars Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth … Suh finished second at the 2015 California state championships as a senior (by one stroke) a year after winning it as a junior in 2014 … The 2014 NGCA Junior Championship winner also won the Central Coast Section title in 2014 and 2015, the latter win in a one-hole playoff … As a 2013 sophomore, he tied for third at the Central Coast Section event … He won the individual title at the 2014 Hogan Cup and took second at the 2014 Junior America’s Cup … He was named the 2014 and 2015 San Jose Mercury News Boys Golfer of the Year and the 2013 Junior Tour of Northern California Player of the Year … Suh is a business administration major.
Kristoffer Ventura – Oklahoma State
Junior – Honorable Mention All-American
As a sophomore in 2015-16, Ventura was named a third-team All-American by both Golfweek magazine and the Golf Coaches Association of America … Was tabbed as an all-region selection as well as a first-team All-Big 12 pick … Closed with a 69 to finish at 216 and tied for 12th place at the Valspar Collegiate … Earned his first victory at the Aggie Invitational … Posted rounds of 69, 72 and 71 to finish at 4-under 212 … Tied for seventh place at The Maxwell with scores of 68 and 70 giving him a 2-under 138 total … Tied for 12th place at the Big 12 Championship with a 293 tally … Earned his second win of the spring at the NCAA Stillwater Regional after carding an even-par total of 216 with rounds of 71 72 and 73 … Tied for 51st place at the NCAA Championship with a 291 score … Ventura was named a Ping All-Central Region pick as a freshman … Was also tabbed as a first-team All-Big 12 selection … Made 11 starts during his first season as a Cowboy … Finished in sole possession of ninth place at The Prestige at PGA West with scores of 68, 69 and 71 giving him an 8-under total of 208 … Tied for 32nd place at the Big 12 Championship … Posted a 302 total … Closed with a 69 at the NCAA New Haven Regional to finish at 217 and tied for 42nd place … Tied for 84th place at the NCAA Championship Posting a 227 total … As an amateur, Ventura has represented Norway twice at the World Amateur Team Championship, competing in 2014 and 2012 … In 2014, he posted rounds of 70, 71, 70 and 69 to finish at 6-under 280 and tied for 51st place … In 2012, tied for 13th place at 5-under 209 with scores of 73, 68 and 68 … Finished third at the 2014 Italian International Amateur Championship with rounds of 70, 72, 72 and 75 … Represented Europe at the Jacques Leglise Trophy in 2013 … Competed for Norway at The Spirit International in 2013 … Finished fifth at the 2013 French Boys … Finished second at the 2012 European Nations Cup … Posted a 286 score with rounds of 73, 76, 69 and 68 … Won the 2012 French Boys Championship with a 140 total after carding rounds of 68 and 72 … Carded a 223 total to tie for second place at the 2011 European Young Masters … Won the French International Boys Championship with scores of 70 and 74 … Represented the European side at the 2010 Junior Ryder Cup … Ventura is the son of Carlos and Charlotte Ventura … Majoring in sports management.
Gunn Yang – San Diego State University
Senior – Honorable Mention All-American
2014 U.S. Amateur Champion … Yang saw his first extensive action as a collegian, cracking the starting lineup in 11 of 13 tournaments as a sophomore during the 2015-16 season … Averaged 73.24 strokes in 33 rounds … Logged three top-10 placements. … Carded a dramatic double-eagle on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff following the final round of the NCAA Albuquerque Regional (May 16-18) … Finished the regional alone in 10th place with a 7-over 223 in regulation, highlighted by a huge birdie on the 18th green during the final round … Contributed to SDSU’s team title at the Barona Collegiate Cup, landing in a fifth-place tie at 4-under 212, highlighted by a career-best 68 in the opening round (March 21-22) … Also competed at the historic Western Intercollegiate (April 11-13) and the NCAA Championships, where he shot a 20-over 230 on rounds of 75-81-74 (May 27-30) … During 2014-15, Yang competed in several events on the PGA Tour as an amateur, highlighted by appearances in the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open … Tied for 65th at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, where he fired a 2-over 282 on rounds of 67-70-71-74 … Also participated in the Farmers Insurance Open, Arnold Palmer Invitational, RBC Heritage and Memorial Tournament … Was the highest finishing amateur at the Mazda NSW Open in Australia, where he took fourth overall at 12-under 276, highlighted by a 66 in the third round … In the summer of 2014, Yang captured the U.S. Amateur Championship after winning six straight matches, including four against top-100 opponents in the World Amateur Golf Rankings … Became SDSU’s second U.S. Amateur champion since Gene Littler in 1953 … Advanced to the match-play phase of the tournament after finishing in a tie for 21st with a combined 2-under 141 in medal competiton … Won his sectional qualifier with a collective 4-under 140 at Hacienda Country Club in La Habra, Calif. … Made his first collegiate appearance during the fall of 2012 in the individual tournament at the Kikkor Golf Husky Invitational where he tied for 17th with a combined 8-over 221, which featured a season-best 69 during the final round (Sept. 17-18) … Earned a starting assignment the following week at the PING/Golfweek Preview, finishing in the 72nd position at 19-over 229 … Yang graduated from Torrey Pines High School in San Diego … Majoring in social science at SDSU.
+ Sun Bowl +