Pepperdine?s Putnam Named Nelson Recipient

NORMAN, Okla. ? The Golf Coaches Association of America has announced Michael Putnam of Pepperdine the recipient of the 2005 Byron Nelson Award presented by Cleveland Golf, in cooperation with the Four Seasons Resort and Club Las Colinas and the Salesmanship Club of Dallas. Candidates for the Nelson must be a graduating senior and the selection committee will consider equally a nominee?s entire collegiate academic career, entire collegiate golf career and his character and integrity while in college. Particular consideration will be given to a nominee?s good citizenship, as portrayed by Mr. Byron Nelson over the course of his life and golf career. Putnam becomes the second Pepperdine golfer - Jason Allred was the inaugural recipient - to win the award in its four-year history.

The MVP of last summer?s USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship, Putnam has earned medalist honors once this season along with two runner-up, four top-five, and an eighth-place finish. A Tacoma, Wash., product, Putnam is Pepperdine?s leader in career stroke average and is on pace to break his own single-season record of 71.00. A semifinalist for the Ben Hogan Award and member of the 2005 U.S. Palmer Cup presented by Monster team, he was recently named All-West Coast Conference and a Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar. Putnam has earned All-America honors twice in his career, as well as West Coast Conference Golfer of the Year and All-West Coast Conference three times.