NORMAN, Okla. – Gonzaga men's golfers
Holden Backes,
Charlie Magruder,
Nick Nolan,
Matthew Ruel and
Zach Stocker were among the first wave of student-athletes named Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholars Wednesday.
Nolan received the honor for the second straight year. It was a record setting year for the award as 614 student-athletes earned the title of All-America Scholar, the most since the awards inception in 1982. Of the 611 honorees, 376 players were Division I selections. 2020 marks the first year in which sophomores are eligible for the award.
To be eligible for Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar status an individual must be a sophomore, junior or senior academically in Division I, II, III, and NAIA, or receiving their Associate's Degree and in their last year of athletic eligibility in the NJCAA. In addition, they must have a stroke-average under 76.0 in Division I, 78.0 in Division II, 78.0 in NAIA and 79.0 in Division III, 77.0 in NJCAA, and maintain a minimum cumulative career grade-point average of 3.2. For 2019-20 only, they must participate in 40 percent of the team's competitive rounds.
Ruel, who was recently named Academic All-WCC, appeared in five tournaments, and had a team-low 72.43 scoring average. He had four top-30 finishes in 2019-20. The Sports Management major has a 3.64 grade point average.
Stocker, another recent Academic All-WCC selection, appeared in all five tournaments, with a 73.64 scoring average. He finished the season three-over relative to par. The sophomore carded season-low round of 69 in the final round of the Nick Watney Invitational. He has a 3.70 GPA and is an undeclared business major.
Backes boasts a 3.90 GPA as a Business Accounting major. He played in five rounds this past season, with a 73.80 average. His season-low round was 68. Both Magruder (3.47 GPA) and Nolan (3.42 GPA) are Business Administration majors, and both played eight rounds. Nolan had a 74.38 average, while Magruder finished at 74.63.
A second announcement of Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholars that include the second wave of nominations as well as those schools on the quarter system will be announced sometime next month.
