NORMAN, Okla. – Luukas Alakulppi,
Wilson Andress,
Brett Barron,
Colin Bowles,
Ben Carr,
Jake Maples and
Mason Williams have been named Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholars by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
"This award is a culmination of extremely hard work in the classroom and during competition, and I couldn't be prouder of what these seven have accomplished," said Georgia Southern coach
Carter Collins. "While traveling for team competition, these guys miss a lot of class time and have to work even harder to stay on top of their academics. To achieve that while also achieving an elite level of golf is impressive. This honor would not be possible without the relentless effort of
Joann Wakefield and
Reggie Simpkins with Student-Athlete Services. Congratulations to each of these guys, and I'm appreciative of them for their continued hard work in being the best student-athlete they can be. Hail Southern!!"
To be eligible for Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar status, an individual must be a sophomore, junior or senior academically in Division I, II, III, and NAIA, or receiving their associate's degree and in their last year of athletic eligibility in the NJCAA. In addition, they must have a stroke-average under 76.0 in Division I, 78.0 in Division II, 78.0 in NAIA and 79.0 in Division III, 77.0 in NJCAA, and maintain a minimum cumulative career grade-point average of 3.2. For 2019-20 only, they must participate in 40 percent of the team's competitive rounds.
Alakulppi played in five events and posted a 73.87 scoring average. He was named to the Georgia Southern President's List (4.0 grade point average) in the fall and spring. Andress made five starts, tallied a 74.13 scoring average and was named to the GS President's List in the fall and spring.
Barron, who earns the honor for the second consecutive year, played in six events and posted a 72 scoring average. He was named to the GS Dean's List (3.50-3.99 grade point average) in the spring. Bowles tied for second on the team, ranked 11th in the Sun Belt in scoring average at 71.33 and led the team with seven tournaments and 21 rounds played. He was named to the GS President's List in the fall and the Dean's List in the spring.
Carr led the Eagles and ranked fifth in the Sun Belt with a 70.44 scoring average and finished in the top-20 four times and in the top-10 in three events. He was named to the GS Dean's List in the spring.
Maples ranked 12th in the Sun Belt and fourth on the team with a 71.72 scoring average and was named to GS Dean's List in fall. Williams tallied a 71.33 scoring average, which tied for second best on the team and tied for ninth-lowest in the Sun Belt. He tallied two top-5 finishes and three top-20 outings.
A total of 1,018 players around the country earned the honor, and 2020 marks the first year in which sophomores were eligible for the award. Prior to this year, the most GCAA All-American Scholars Georgia Southern has had in a year was three.
