Fresno State Athletics
Watney Claims All-American Honors
6/2/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
June 2, 2001
FRESNO, Calif. - The Golf Coaches Association of America announced its 2000-01 PING All-America teams and winner of three individual awards Saturday, June 2. Bulldog Nick Watney was one of three sophomores named to be a PING second-team All-America selection.
The GCAA All-America Committee selected the individuals based upon play throughout the 2000-01 season, including the NCAA Championships. To be named to the PING All-America teams, a player must be named to the PING All-District teams or finish in the top 15 at the NCAA Championships.
Watney finishes his second season with the `Dogs ranked currently as 15th in the Golfstat Cup national individual rankings and finished T13 at the NCAA Championships. He holds the school's all-time lowest seasonal average at 71.46 over 41 rounds. Wantey also holds the Fresno State record for lowest 54-hole score of 200, which he tallied at San Diego this season in March. Watney was also named the WAC Player of the Year as well as Fresno State MVP and Most Improved Player. Watney was selected to compete on the U.S./Japan team and will be one of five players selected nationally to travel to Japan to compete at the end of June.
The GCAA also announced its selections for their three annual individual awards: Softspikes Freshman of the Year, Nicklaus Award and Palmer award. Selected for the Softspikes Freshman of the Year Award was Camilo Villegas from the University of Florida, also the only freshman selection to the first team PING All-America. Bryce Molder of Georgia Tech was named recipient of the Nicklaus Award. The Nicklaus Award is given annually to the player who excels throughout the course of the entire 2000-01 season. The Palmer Award is give annually to the medalist at the NCAA Championships in Division I, II and III. Florida's Nick Gilliam is the 2001 Division I Palmer Award winner.
