2012 Dave Williams Award presented by Eaton Golf Pride Recipients Announced
NEWCASTLE, Northern Ireland. – The GCAA in conjunction with diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation today announced the six outstanding collegiate golf coaches receiving the Dave Williams Award presented by Eaton Golf Pride as national coaches of the year. Jeff Fiorini, general manager of Eaton’s Golf Grip Division, will present the coaches with their awards during the Hall of Fame Banquet at the GCAA Convention.
John Fields of Texas (Division I), Garrett Runion of the Nova Southeastern (Division III), Jim Owen of Oglethorpe (Division III), Kyle Blaser of Oklahoma City (NAIA), Mike Hagen of Indian Hills (NJCAA Division I) and Jake Harrington of South Mountain CC (NJCAA Division II) earned coach of the year honors for 2012. Eaton Golf Pride Region and District Coaches of the Year were also named.
Fields was the architect of a Texas team that won seven tournament titles last season in addition to the program’s third NCAA Championship and first since 1972. The Longhorns held the No. 1 national ranking all but two weeks during the 2011-12 season. Senior Dylan Frittelli was named co-recipient of the Byron Nelson Award presented by Cleveland Golf/Srixon and along with Jordan Spieth was named PING First-Team All-America and to the All-Nicklaus Team. Spieth was also a finalist for the Ben Hogan Award presented by Baird Private Wealth Management and was named Big 12 Player and Freshman of the Year.
After assuming the helm of the NSU men’s golf program heading into the fall season, Runion led Nova Southeastern to its first national championship in men’s golf. The Sharks placed in the top five in all 12 of the events in which they competed including three victories. Ben Taylor received the Jack Nicklaus Award as the Division II national player of the year and PING First-Team All-America honors. Oscar Lengden was second-team All-America and earned the Phil Mickelson Award presented by the Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation as the outstanding freshmen in Division II. He was also selected Sunshine Conference Coach of the Year.
Owen guided the Stormy Petrels to the program’s second NCAA Championship in the past four years. After a fall season that featured three top-five finishes, Owen settled on a spring lineup that won three of six spring events while narrowly settling for second place in the other three. The Petrels won the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) for the 10th time in April when they led wire-to-wire en route to a 21-stroke victory. Less than a month later, Owen’s squad duplicated the feat on their way to a convincing 20-stroke win at the NCAA Championships. Owen was named SCAC Men’s Golf Coach of the Year for the twelfth time in 2012.
Blaser led Oklahoma City to its eighth NAIA men’s golf title this season. OCU overcame a four-shot deficit to upend No. 2 Oklahoma Christian. The Stars closed 2011-12 with four tournament crowns. OCU captured the Sooner Athletic Conference championship for the 18th time and 15th time in 16 years. Clark Collier and James Marchesani were named PING First Team All-America selections while Taylor Artman and Michael Palmer were named to the second team. Collier won the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) individual title, while Artman and James Marchesani collected All-SAC nods. Blaser was named SAC Coach of the Year. This marks the seventh time Blaser has won the Dave Williams Award.
Hagen’s Indian Hills squad won its second-straight NJCAA Division I national championship, claiming the title by 13 shots. The Warriors won seven tournaments this season - including its last five - and compiled a 94-6 head-to-head record. Ben Ludlam earned PING First-Team All-America and was recognized as the Phil Mickelson Award as the outstanding freshman in NJCAA Division I. Four additional were named All-District. Hagen will coach Team USA at this summer’s World University Games. It was the second-consecutive season Hagen has won the Dave Williams Award.
Harrington led South Mountain CC to the NJCAA Division II national title. It was one of 10 victories on the season for the Cougars. Four South Mountain golfers claimed medalist honors in 2011-12. Jimmy Kozikowski was named the NJCAA Jack Nicklaus Award recipient as national player of the year and was joined by Ian Patterson and Matt Record as PING First-Team All-Americans. Jake Argento received the Phil Mickelson Award and was second-team All-America along with Marley Sweeney. Harrington was additionally named region and conference coach of the year and NJCAA national coach of the year.
Eaton’s Golf Grip Division is the world’s largest manufacturer of golf grips, with manufacturing, sales and distribution facilities on five continents. The division’s Golf Pride brand is recognized globally as the number one choice in grips among tour and recreational players, competitive amateur golfers, club manufacturers and club repairmen. For more information, visit www.golfpride.com.
Dave Williams Award Presented by Eaton Golf Pride
Division I - John Fields, Texas
Division II - Garrett Runion, Nova Southeastern
Division III - Jim Owen, Oglethorpe
NAIA - Kyle Blaser, Oklahoma City
NJCAA Division I - Mike Hagen, Indian Hills CC
NJCAA Division II - Jake Harrington, South Mountain CC
Eaton Golf Pride Region and District Coaches of the Year
Division I
Northeast - Rich Parker, Dartmouth
East - Jeff Thomas, Liberty
Southeast - Jay Seawell, Alabama
Midwest - Herb Page, Kent State
Central - John Fields, Texas
West - Steve Desimone, California
Division II
East - Stephen Ferrara, St. Thomas Aquinas
Atlantic - Fred Joseph, IUP
Southeast - David Synan, UNC-Pembroke
South - Garrett Runion, Nova Southeastern
Midwest - Brent Nicoson, Indianapolis
South Central - Tim Poe, Central Missouri
Central - Tyler Kimble, Colorado School of Mines
West - T.L. Brown, Chico State
Division III
Northeast - Dan Wesley, Rochester
Mid-Atlantic - Bob Simms, St. John Fisher
Southeast - Jim Owen, Oglethorpe
Great Lakes - Brian Lane, Transylvania
Central - Jim Ott, Illinois Wesleyan
West - King Campbell, UT-Tyler
NAIA
North - Chris Winkle, Grand View
South - Chris Kraftick, Cumberlands
Central - Kyle Blaser, Oklahoma City
West - Brian Carbery, Victoria
NJCAA Division I
District I - Rick Rogers, Texarkana
District II - James Black, New Mexico JC
District III - Mike Hagen, Indian Hills CC
District IV - Clinton Hales, Meridian CC
NJCAA Division II
East - Bill Gardner, Walters State
Central - Tommy Snell, Mississippi Gulf Coast CCC
West - Jake Harrington, South Mountain