Nov. 27, 2012

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina freshman Matt NeSmith was recently named the Rolex Player of the Year at the Rolex Junior All-America Awards Banquet.

NeSmith became the first player in AJGA history to win the Rolex Tournament of Champions and the Polo Golf Junior Classic in the same season. He won the Polo Junior Golf Classic last fall by winning the championship match 4 and 3 at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. He then claimed a four-shot victory in the Tournament of Champions in June.

A native of North Augusta, S.C., NeSmith has had a stellar start to his Gamecock career. He posted an average of 74.33 in four tournament appearances this fall and recorded three top-20 finishes, including a tie for seventh finish at the Rees Jones Invitational and a tie for sixth showing at the Wendy’s Kiawah Classic.