News

UVU Men’s Golf Earns Team and Individual Academic Honors

By Jason Erickson, Assistant Athletic Director – Communications at Utah Valley University

NORMAN, Oklahoma—The Utah Valley University men's golf team has earned 18Birdies All-Academic Team honors by the Golf Coaches Association of America. The Wolverines were one of 127 Division I teams to earn the honor.
 
Utah Valley was one of only two teams from the WAC to earn the honor as Seattle U was also recognized. The honor marks the seventh-straight season that the Wolverines have received the award under head coach Chris Curran.   
“Part of building this program has been a tradition of getting players who get it done in the classroom as well as on the course,” said Curran. “Our players continue to push one another to get better both on the course and in the classroom and its fun to see their hard work pay off.”
 
To be eligible for 18Birdies GCAA All-Academic team honors, a college or university must have a combined team GPA of 3.0 or better.

NORMAN, Oklahoma—The Golf Coaches Association of America announced on Wednesday that Utah Valley golfers Blair Bursey, Ariel Elftman-Hanson, and Jake Godfrey have been named Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Division I Scholars.
 
It marks the first time in UVU men's golf history that three players have earned the All-America Scholar award in a single season. UVU led the WAC with three players earning the honor, followed by UTRGV with two, New Mexico State with one and Seattle U with one.
 
To be eligible for Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar status an individual must be a junior or senior academically, compete in at least three full years at the collegiate level, participate in 50-percent of his team's competitive rounds, 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, and maintain a minimum cumulative career grade-point average of 3.2. A recipient must also be of high moral character and be in good standing at his college or university. 
 
“It's the first time in school history that we have had three academic All-American scholars,” said Utah Valley head coach Chris Curran. “It's a great accomplishment. I'm very proud of them. They get it done in the classroom and on the course. It's a great honor for players and our team.”
 
Bursey graduated from UVU with a degree in communications. The Gander, Newfoundland native tallied seven top-20 finishes this past season, including three top-5 performances. Bursey's top result of the season was a fourth place finish at the Pizza Hut Pat Hicks Invitational in St. George, Utah where he carded 3-under-par 141 (71-70) to help his team to the team title. Bursey also tied for fifth at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational in Boulder, Colorado and tied for the fifth spot at the Kingsmill Intercollegiate in Williamsburg, Virginia. The senior golfer led the Wolverines this season with a 72.06 scoring average—the third best mark in UVU history. He earned first team all-WAC honors this past season.
 
Elftman-Hanson graduated from Utah Valley with a degree in accounting.  He had an impressive senior season, competing in all 11 tournaments with a pair of top-15 performances. He tied for fifth at the Pizza Hut Pat Hicks Invitational with a two-round score of 1-under-par 143 (68-75). He also finished 13th at the WAC Championship with a three-round score of 11-over-par 221 (71-74-76). Elftman-Hanson finished the year with a scoring average of 73.59.
 
Godfrey wrapped up his junior season at UVU with a scoring average of 74.04. He played in 10 of UVU's 11 tournaments on the season. Godfrey tallied four top-20 performances, including a 10th place finish at the Kingsmill Intercollegiate with a three-round score of 7-over-par 217 (75-71-71). He finished 19th at the WAC Championship with a three-round score of 15-over-par 225 (72-76-77).
 
For a complete list of honorees, click here.