April 13, 2016

FORTH WORTH, Texas — University of South Carolina Men’s Golf senior Matt NeSmith was chosen as a semifinalist for the 2016 Ben Hogan Award, it was revealed today. NeSmith is one of 10 players still in the running for the most prestigious award in collegiate golf.

NeSmith has posted a banner season in his senior campaign, including medalist honors at the Palmetto Intercollegiate and the General Hackler Championship. His season scoring average of 71.15 is bolstered by a spring average of 69.87, and he’s ranked No. 13 individually by both Golfstat and Golfweek.

Led by NeSmith, the Gamecocks are surging into the postseason. South Carolina won team championships at the Palmetto Intercollegiate and General Hackler Championship, and most recently they earned a 15-stroke win at the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate.

Awarded by Colonial Country Club, the Friends of Golf (FOG) and the Golf Coaches Association of America, the Ben Hogan Award presented by Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) is issued annually to the top men’s NCAA Division I, II or III, NAIA or NJCAA college golfer taking into account all collegiate and amateur competitions during the past 12-month period. The Ben Hogan Award Selection Committee, which votes during each stage of the process, is comprised of leaders in professional, amateur and collegiate golf.

NeSmith is joined on the 2016 Ben Hogan Award semifinalist list by Illinois senior Charlie Danielson, Florida freshman Sam Horsfield, Texas junior Beau Hossler, Auburn senior Michael Johnson, Georgia senior Lee McCoy, Stanford junior Maverick McNealy, Arizona State senior and reigning Hogan Award winner Jon Rahm, Alabama junior Robby Shelton and Oregon sophomore Aaron Wise.

On Tuesday, May 3, the list of 10 semifinalists will be pared down to three finalists. The three finalists will attend a black-tie banquet at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, on Monday, May 23, where the winner will be crowned.

UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS

NeSmith and the Gamecocks open their postseason run at the 2016 SEC Championship, which will be held April 15-17 at Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simons Island, Ga. NeSmith is the reigning medalist at the event, and the Gamecocks are looking for their first SEC team title after garnering a runner-up finish last season.