NORMAN, Okla. --- Tusculum College's Brad Hawkins has been named a semifinalist for the 2016 Jack Nicklaus NCAA Division II National Player of the Year Award presented by Barbasol.
Hawkins, a senior from Knoxville, Tennessee, is one of 30 NCAA II student-athletes named to the list, including South Atlantic Conference representatives Sam Broadhurst (Lincoln Memorial) and Andrew Hall (Carson-Newman).
Finalists will be named at the GCAA National Awards Banquet on May 12 with the Nicklaus Award winner being announced on June 2. The winner will be presented the honor by Jack Nicklaus during the final round of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance at Muirfield Village Golf Club.
Hawkins was named the 2016 South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year, becoming the fourth Pioneer in program history to earn the SAC's top golf honor, joining former TC greats Brent Dyson (2001-02), Chris Wynne (2007-08) and Chase Carroll (2008-09).
He is having arguably the best season in program history as he owns a NCAA Division II-leading 70.40 scoring average, which is on pace to be a new Tusculum and SAC single-season record. The Knox Central High School graduate has finished in the top-five in nine of his 11 events this year, including medalist honors at the State Farm Intercollegiate, Pioneer Classic and Hargett Memorial Intercollegiate.
Hawkins has carded a school single-season record 14 sub-par rounds, with nine of those in the 60s, including an 18-hole TC and SAC record 63 at the Pioneer Classic last fall. During the Pioneer Classic, he carded the lowest 36-hole score in school and SAC history with an eight-under par 132. He also established the 54-hole TC and SAC record with a remarkable 16-under par 200 at the State Farm Intercollegiate.
The 2015 GCAA All-Region standout leads the nation in score versus par (1.07) and is second in both par 5 scoring (4.53) and sub-par strokes per round (4.27). He is also third in par 4 scoring (.402) and 24th in eagles (4).
Hawkins career scoring average of 71.25 at Tusculum is also on pace to shatter the college and conference record book. His five career medalist wins are tied for third most at Tusculum, while his 22 career sub-par rounds are tied for the most in TC history and sharing the mark with former TC All-American Chase Carroll (2005-09).
He is coming off a runner-up finish at the SAC Championship earlier this week as her fired a two-under par 70 to finished with a 54-hole score of 218 (+2).
- TC -
Division II Jack Nicklaus Award National Player of the
Year Award Semifinalists
Liam Ainsworth, Saint Leo
Mario Beltran, Barry
Hugo Bernard, Saint Leo
Chandler Blanchet, West Florida
Sam Broadhurst, Lincoln Memorial
Ethan Chamineak, Georgia Southwestern State
John Coultas, Florida Southern
Chris Crisologo, Simon Fraser
Alistair Docherty, Chico State
Lee Gearhart, Chico State
Ryan Gendron, Saint Leo
Mateo Gomez, Lynn
Andrew Hall, Carson-Newman
Brad Hawkins, Tusculum
Dylan Healey, CSU San Marcos
Jimmy Jones, Florida Southern
Reed Lindsey, Delta State
Richard Mansell, Nova Southeastern
Graham McAree, Indianapolis
Jose Andres Miranda, Lynn
Daniel Nielsen, Cameron
Colin Prater, Colorado-Colorado Springs
Talin Rajendranath, West Florida
Joey Savoie, Saint Leo
Alex Springer, Central Missouri
Shea Sylvester, Lee
John VanDerLaan, Florida Southern
Carr Vernon, CSU Monterey Bay
Barret Waters, West Georgia
Niclas Weiland, Barry