June 20, 2013

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina freshman Matt NeSmith has been named to the PING Honorable Mention All-America Team, the Golf Coaches Association of America announced Thursday.

NeSmith becomes the 19th golfer in school history to garner the honor and is the first Gamecock freshman to receive the accolade since George Bryan IV earned honorable mention honors in 2007.

A native of North Augusta, S.C., NeSmith turned in one of the most decorated freshman seasons in school history. On top of the All-American honor, he was also named the SEC Co-Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the PING All-Southeast Region Team. He led South Carolina to a runner-up finish at the SEC Championship and a tie for second showing at the NCAA Columbus Regional, which secured the program’s first NCAA Championship berth since 2009. He recorded seven top-10 finishes this season, tying for the second most all-time in a single season at South Carolina. He also led the Gamecocks in scoring with a stroke average of 72.64, which is the second lowest average for a freshman in school history. NeSmith was South Carolina’s top finisher at the NCAA Championship as he tied for 38th after firing a final-round 66 (-4), matching the lowest NCAA Championship score in school history.

NeSmith was one of 12 golfers from the SEC to be named to the PING All-America teams.

PING All-America TeamsFirst TeamDaniel Berger, Florida StateJulien Brun, TCUGreg Eason, UCFJames Erkenbeck, New MexicoMax Homa, CaliforniaMichael Kim, CaliforniaCheng-Tsung Pan, WashingtonPatrick Rodgers, StanfordBrandon Stone, TexasMichael Weaver, CaliforniaCory Whitsett, Alabama
Second TeamAlbin Choi, NC StateSean Dale, North FloridaScott Fernandez, Iowa StatePedro Figueiredo, UCLABrandon Hagy, CaliforniaBrinson Paolini, DukeJoel Stalter, CaliforniaJustin Thomas, AlabamaChris Williams, WashingtonBobby Wyatt, Alabama
Third TeamAnders Albertson, Georgia TechSebastian Cappelen, ArkansasCorey Conners, Kent StateOliver Goss, TennesseeGavin Green, New MexicoMJ Maguire, North FloridaThomas Pieters, IllinoisOllie Schniederjans, Georgia TechPontus Widegren, UCLACameron Wilson, Stanford
Honorable MentionEvan Beck, Wake ForestZac Blair, BYUDominic Bozzelli, AuburnRodolfo Cazaubon, North TexasYi Keun Chang, Southern CaliforniaMario Clemens, SMUCharlie Danielson, IllinoisIan Davis, Oklahoma StateTyler Dunlap, Texas A&MNicolas Echavarria, ArkansasJonathan Garrick, UCLAJonathan Grey, Georgia StateCody Gribble, TexasRick Lamb, TennesseeDenny McCarthy, VirginiaTyler McCumber, FloridaMatt NeSmith, South CarolinaJordan Niebrugge, Oklahoma StateKevin Penner, UNLVJack Perry, NorthwesternKevin Phelan, North FloridaJon Rahm, Arizona StateSeth Reeves, Georgia TechChase Seiffert, Florida StateSam Smith, Southern CaliforniaSebastian Soderberg, Coastal CarolinaScott Strohmeyer, Alabama