April 30, 2013

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina freshman Matt NeSmith has been named the Co-SEC Men’s Golf Freshman of the Year, and senior Dykes Harbin has earned Second-Team All-SEC honors as selected by the league’s 14 coaches, the conference office announced Tuesday.

NeSmith also earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team. He becomes the third Gamecock to receive the SEC Freshman of the Year award, joining former Gamecocks Brent Roof (1997) and Mark Anderson (2005). He shares this year’s award with Arkansas’ Taylor Moore.

“I’m really proud of Matt and Dykes,” South Carolina head coach Bill McDonald said. “They really had great years for us. Caleb (Sturgeon) did as well and probably should have been on one of those teams, but that speaks to the strength of the SEC and how many great players we have in our conference. Matt and Dykes are very deserving of their honors.”

A native of North Augusta, S.C., NeSmith played in all 10 tournaments this season. He ranks second on the team and 21st in the SEC with a scoring average of 73.00, which is tied for the fourth-best stroke average for a freshman in school history. He recorded a team-high eight top-20 finishes, including six top-10 showings. He closed out the regular season in strong fashion with four-straight top-10 finishes and was named SEC Freshman of the Week three times during that stretch. He tied for 20th at the SEC Championship to help lead the Gamecocks to a runner-up finish.

Harbin, a native of Augusta, Ga., is having a stellar run during his final season in Garnet and Black. He leads the team and ranks 16th in the conference with a stroke average of 72.73. He is tied for second on the squad with six top-20 finishes, including a win at the AutoTrader.com Collegiate Classic in the fall. He finished tied for seventh at the SEC Championship to lead the Gamecocks to a second-place finish.

NeSmith, Harbin and the rest of the Gamecocks will now wait for the NCAA Regional pairings to be announced on May 6. Carolina will be selected to compete in one of the following regionals: Baton Rouge, La., Tallahassee, Fla., Columbus, Ohio, Fayetteville, Ark., Pullman, Wash., or Tempe, Ariz.

2013 SEC MEN'S GOLF AWARDSCoach of the YearJay Seawell, Alabama
Golfer of the YearCory Whitsett, Alabama
Scholar-Athlete of the YearAustin Cook, ArkansasHunter Kraus, MissouriCory Whitsett, Alabama
Freshman of the YearTaylor Moore, ArkansasMatt NeSmith, South Carolina
First Team All-SECSebastian Cappelen, Arkansas(SEC Championship Medalist)Bobby Wyatt, AlabamaJustin Thomas, AlabamaCory Whitsett, AlabamaJace Long, MissouriTyler McCumber, FloridaChad Ramey, Mississippi StateOliver Goss, TennesseeT.J. Mitchell, MitchellCurtis Thompson, LSU
Second Team All-SECAndrew Presley, LSUNicholas Reach, GeorgiaDykes Harbin, South CarolinaAxel Boasson, Mississippi StateTrey Millinax, AlabamaMichael Hebert, AuburnT.J. Vogel, FloridaAndrew Evans, Texas A&M
Freshman All-SECTaylor Moore, ArkansasMatt NeSmith, South CarolinaOliver Goss, TennesseeLee McCoy, GeorgiaJake Mondy, Auburn