Finalists Announced for NJCAA Division I Dave Williams Award presented by Golf Pride Grips
NORMAN, Okla. – NJCAA Division I finalists for the Dave Williams Award presented by Golf Pride Grips have been announced by the GCAA. The Williams Award honors the national coach of the year in NJCAA Division I men’s golf.
The five finalists are Jamie Howell of Eastern Florida State, Dave Jennings of Central Alabama, Eastern Wyoming’s Zach Smith, Walt Williams of Midland College, and Hutchinson’s Chris Young. If a team wins the NJCAA National Championship and its coach was not previously named a finalist for the Dave Williams Award that coach will be added for coach of the year consideration.
Howell led Eastern Florida State to four team wins - the NJCAA District 4 Preview, NJCAA Division I National Preview, Titan Invitational, and NJCAA District 4 Championship. The Titans also has a third place and three fourth place showings.
Central Alabama claimed victories on five occasions this season - Bulldog JUCO Preview Classic, Chick-fil-A Collegiate Invitational, Trojan Invitational, Glen Lakes Invitational, and NJCAA Region 22 Championship. Jennings’ charges were also runner-up three times and did not place outside the top five.
Smith’s Eastern Wyoming squad won 11 of the 13 tournaments it competed in this season. The Lancers were runner-up in their other two events. Additionally, Eastern Wyoming claimed the Region IX title by claiming 10 of the regions 12 tournaments.
Williams’s Midland College was victories in nine of its 12 tournaments this season. The Chaps also placed second, third, and seventh in their other three events. Midland has been the top-ranked NJCAA Division I team for seven-straight rankings in the Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll.
Hutchinson won three times this season - its first team titles since 2016. While playing a schedule predominately against four-year colleges, Young also led the Blue Dragons to three runner-up showings. Hutchinson’s other three finishes were sixth, seventh, and 11th.
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