Finalists Named for 2022 Byron Nelson Award presented by Srixon/Cleveland Golf
NORMAN, Okla. - The GCAA announced today, in cooperation with the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, that Spencer Cross (Tennessee), Mason Domecq (Ottawa University - Arizona), Cole Hammer (Texas), William Knauth (Carnegie Mellon), and Trent Phillips (Georgia) are the finalists for the 2022 Byron Nelson Award presented by Srixon/Cleveland Golf.
Cross, who has been named to three All-SEC Academic, a two-time All-American Scholar recipient, two SEC Community Service, and 2020 PING All-America Honorable Mention teams, completed his undergraduate degree in May 2021 with a 3.47 GPA in Marketing, including a Leadership Collateral. He is currently taking courses as a post-graduate student-athlete in entrepreneurship and public policy, while being the President and Co-Founder of Smoky Mountain Junior Golf, which is a non-profit organization that gives juniors in his hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee the accessibility to free golf, equipment, lessons, clothing, etc. Weekly clinics are done throughout the fall season, where he volunteers and helps instruct the players.
“Citizenship is not only about the works of that individual but about one's own actions, character, and leadership,” said Domecq, who was a 2019 OUAZ Presidential Scholar, 2021 All-American Scholar, two-time PING NAIA All-American, and 2021 GSAC Player of the Year. “A golfer is not only defined by their actions on the golf course, but the steps they take to make the world around them a better place and to impact the lives of those around them.” Domecq graduated in April with a 4.0 GPA in Accounting and is an active member of the SAAC, who meet regularly to help to better the experience of all OUAZ students. He is the first to volunteer for clinics to serve youth and has played golf multiple times with the OUAZ upper staff and key donors.
Hammer’s accolades on the course include PING First-Team All-American, Phil Mickelson Freshman of the Year, Arnold Palmer Cup, Spirit Invitational and Walker Cup alumni, Big 12 Individual Champion, and experience playing in The Open Championship and U.S. Open. He is a two-time All-American Scholar and is graduating in May with a 3.65 GPA in Corporate Communications and Business Administration. His community involvement includes being a three-year member of the Texas Silver Stars, an honorary men’s service organization at the University of Texas that appears at local charity events.
Knauth, a Williamsport, Pennsylvania native, is graduating in May with a dual degree in Physics and Math, carrying a 3.91 GPA. He has campaigned to become an Iron Phi for the LiveLikeLou foundation to support ALS awareness, education, and treatment. He also volunteers time with The Education Partnership in Pittsburgh, which helps teachers in local schools with supplies and support with STEM education and activities, the Homeless Children’s Education Fund supporting homeless children in Pittsburgh, the First Church in Williamsport, preparing meals for elderly residents, and FreshCheckDay at Carnegie Mellon, an event to raise mental health awareness and support on campus and in the community.
The Athens, Georgia product, Phillips has been named PING First-Team All-American, All-SEC First Team three times, a 2022 Ben Hogan Award Semifinalist, Honorable Mention All-American, an Arnold Palmer Cup Team USA member, Jack Carlyle Fraser Memorial Golf Endowment recipient, and SEC Freshman of the Year during his four years at Georgia. He has been involved with Bigger Vision of Athens, which provides assistance to the homeless, the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, which addresses hunger in his community, the Athens Area Animal Shelter, which rescues and assists companion pets, the Miracle League, which allows children with disabilities to play baseball, and by teaching golf clinics.
The winner will be announced on May 11 at the AT&T Byron Nelson Luncheon at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.
About the Byron Nelson Award
The purpose of the Byron Nelson Award is to select annually the outstanding Division I, II, III, or NAIA scholar-athlete of the year. The recipient, a graduating senior, is recognized for his achievement in the classroom, on the course, and in his community. Past winners include McClure Meissner (SMU), John Murphy (Louisville), Ryan Lumsden (Northwestern), Matthew Perrine (Baylor), Maverick McNealy (Stanford), Stephen Behr (Clemson), Anders Albertson (Georgia Tech), Brandon Hagy (Cal), Brinson Paolini (Duke), Dylan Frittelli (Texas), Cyril Bouniol (Abilene Christian), Brendan Gielow (Wake Forest), James White (Georgia Tech), Mike Van Sickle (Marquette), Nathaniel James (Washington & Lee), Sam Korbe (Tulsa), Roberto Castro (Georgia Tech), Zack Robinson (Oklahoma State), Michael Putnam (Pepperdine), Billy Hurley (Navy), Troy Matteson (Georgia Tech), and Jason Allred (Pepperdine).