Spieth Named Finalist For Ben Hogan Award

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Texas men’s golf freshman Jordan Spieth has been named a finalist for the 2012 Ben Hogan Award, as announced by Baird Private Wealth Management.

The nation’s top-ranked golfer in the Golfweek/Sagarin ratings as well as the Golfstat rankings, Spieth was recently tabbed the Big 12 Conference Player and Newcomer of the Year. A two-time U.S. Junior Amateur Champion and a member of the 2011 Walker Cup team, the Dallas-native earned his first collegiate title at the Isleworth Collegiate Invitational last fall. He went on to share top honors with teammates Dylan Frittelli and Julio Vegas at the Morris Williams Intercollegiate.

In just nine events during his inaugural year at Texas, Spieth has captured three tournament wins and five additional top-six finishes.

Joining Spieth as finalists are UCLA sophomore Patrick Cantlay and Stanford freshman Patrick Rodgers. The trio comprises the youngest group of finalists in the award’s history. Only one freshman, Oklahoma State’s Rickie Fowler, has garnered the honor, while no sophomore has ever been crowned. The three finalists are the top three amateurs in the World Amateur Golf Rankings and comprise three

of the top six spots in the Scratch Players World Amateur Rankings.

The most prestigious award in men’s college golf, The Ben Hogan Award is presented annually to the top men’s NCAA Division I, II or III, NAIA or NJCAA college golfer, taking into account all collegiate and amateur competitions during the past 12-month period. The Ben Hogan Award Selection Committee represents leaders in professional, amateur and collegiate golf.

In the award’s 12-year tenure, three conference athletes, all from Oklahoma State, have garnered the honor. Hunter Mahan received the award in 2003, Fowler in 2008 and Peter Uihlein is the latest recipient, having earned the honor last season.

The winner will be crowned at a banquet at Colonial Country Club on May 21 prior to the start of the PGA TOUR’s Crowne Plaza Invitational.