NORMAN, Okla. — Alec Spencer of the University of La Verne men's golf team has been named a semifinalist for the 2016 Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award presented by Barbasol.
Spencer, who has emerged as the leader for the young Leopards this year, has won two tournaments this year. He won the prestigious West Cup and SCIAC No. 2, both of which featured a handful of national top-25 teams and top-ranked individual players. Spencer is currently ranked No. 39 in the latest GolfStat head-to-head player standings.
Spencer seeks to become the second Leopard to win the award. Mitchell Fedorka '10 won the honor in 2009.
Finalists for Division III will be named at the GCAA Division III National Awards Banquet on May 10. Nicklaus Award recipients will be announced June 2 with the honor presented by Jack Nicklaus at a ceremony during the final round of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance at Muirfield Village Golf Club.
In addition to receiving the the Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award, the five recipients will compete in the Barbasol Shootout for an exemption into the PGA TOUR's Barbasol Championship, held July 14-17, at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National in Opelika, Alabama. The Barbasol Shootout will be held Saturday, June 4 at the storied Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio - the same club where Jack Nicklaus learned the game of golf as a young boy.
Spencer and the Leopards will compete at the 2016 SCIAC Men's Golf Championship on Sunday, April 24-Tuesday, April 26.
Division III Jack Nicklaus Award National Player of the Year Award presented by Barbasol Semifinalists
Garrett Brickley, Wittenberg
Stefano Butti, Emory
Jackson Collier, Methodist
Evan Cox, Virginia Wesleyan
Nick Dallas, California Lutheran
Ryan Elmore, Berry
Corey Haas, St. John Fisher
Brady Hanson, UW-Eau Claire
Chris Harris, Rhodes
Mats Heien, Mary Hardin-Baylor
Seger Howell, Concordia (TX)
David Kleckner, Oglethorpe
Addison Lambeth, Huntingdon
Logan Lanier, LaGrange
James Lasher, Allegheny
Joey Mayo, Rhodes
Tommy McCloskey, Berry
John McCord, Redlands
Patrick Mills, Oglethorpe
Harry Nodwell, Christopher Newport
Carson Riley, Centre
Jonathan Shaw, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
Kyle Shealy, Oglethorpe
Pete Sienko, St. Thomas (MN)
Alec Spencer, La Verne
Phillip Stewart, Schreiner
Mason Stutler, Methodist
Tim Tynan, Illinois Wesleyan
Alex Wren, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
Connor Yakubov, Emory