NORMAN, Okla. ? Kentucky golfer John Holmes, who is recognized as one of the nation?s best collegiate golfers, was named to the 2004 Ben Hogan Award watch list on Wednesday. The Friends of Golf (FOG) and Colonial Country Club, in cooperation with the Bank of America and the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) sponsor the award, which is presented annually to the top men?s NCAA Division I, II, III or NAIA golfer.
?The depth in college golf this year is reflected in the watch list for The Hogan,? GCAA Executive Director Gregg Grost said. ?Obviously, a great collegiate amateur will be chosen in this, the Heisman of college golf.?
The prestigious award takes into account all collegiate and amateur competitions during the last 12 months. Holmes is one of 34 golfers named to the list for his outstanding accomplishments in the past year. The junior has finished in the top-10 in six of Kentucky?s eight tournaments this year, including a first-place finish at the Conrad Rehling Spring Invitational (March 12-14) and a runner-up finish in the Cleveland Golf/Kiawah Island Intercollegiate (Sept. 8-9).
Last summer, Holmes qualified for the 103rd U.S. Open Championships at Olympia Fields Country Club and he medaled at the U.S. Amateur Championships in Oakmont, Pa. Holmes tied for 16th at the NCAA National Individual Championships and earned honorable mention PING All-American honors.
The Hogan Award selection committee will select 10 semi-finalists on April 14 and name five finalists on April 27. The winner of the Hogan Award will be announced on May 6 and the presentation banquet will be held at Colonial Country Club on May 17, the Monday prior to the Bank of America Colonial.
2004 The Ben Hogan Award Watch List
Nicolas Allain, Oklahoma City; Chris Baryla, UTEP; Dustin Bray, North Carolina; Alejandro Ca?izares, Arizona State; Steve Conway, UCLA; Matt Every, Florida; Jack Ferguson, Clemson; Bill Haas, Wake Forest; Jason Hartwick, Texas; Brad Heaven, Toledo; John Holmes, Kentucky; Billy Hurley, Navy; J.J. Jakovac, Chico State; Travis Johnson, UCLA; Gregg Jones, Clemson; Martin Laird, Colorado State; Brock Mackenzie, Washington; Nolan Martin, Colorado State; John Merrick, UCLA; Ryan Moore, UNLV; Chris Nallen, Arizona; Jeff Overton, Indiana; Aron Price, Georgia Southern; Michael Putnam, Pepperdine; Chez Reavie, Arizona State; Matthew Rosenfeld, Texas; Josh Sherlin, St. John?s; Justin Smith, Minnesota; Chris Stroud, Lamar; Peter Tomasulo, California; Camilo Villegas, Florida; Casey Wittenberg, Oklahoma State
