TWO BULLDOGS NAMED CLEVELAND GOLF ALL-AMERICA SCHOLARS
Carlson and Mason Nationally Recognized For Outstanding Academic Performance
A pair of Ferris State University men's golfers have been recognized for their outstanding academic achievements as juniors Jeff Carlson (Holland/West Ottawa) and Kyle Mason (Mt. Pleasant) were among those recently selected as Division II Cleveland Golf All-America Scholars as announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) All-America Scholars Committee.
The two were among 32 individuals from across the nation and three from Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC)-member institutions to be honored as Division II All-America Scholars by the GCAA, which is the professional association of menís golf coaches and is based in Norman, Okla. Established in 1958, the GCAA is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating, promoting, and recognizing both its members and the student-athletes who participate in collegiate golf at all levels. Through its established events and programs, the GCAA maintains a goal of increasing awareness and the status of men's collegiate golf.
Only juniors and seniors are eligible to be a Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar and must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade-point average. In addition, golfers must have a stroke average under 78.0.
Carlson participated in 27 rounds for the 2005-06 season and turned in a squad third-place best 75.74 stroke average (2,045 total strokes). He placed among the Top 20 in seven tournaments this season, which included four in the top 10. The two-time (2004-05 and 2005-06) GLIAC All-Academic Team selection claimed first-team All-GLIAC honors this season after attaining honorable mention kudos in the previous two campaigns (2003-04 and 2004-05). Carlson, a co-winner of the team's 2003-04 Bulldog Award, placed ninth overall at the 2005-06 GLIAC Men's Golf Championships (Oct. 10-11) in North East, Pa. He's majoring in professional golf management/marketing.
Mason, who earned both All-GLIAC First-Team and a GLIAC All-Academic Team plaudits for the 2005-06 season, registered a team-leading and career-best 75.14 stroke average (2,104 total strokes) in 28 rounds of competition this campaign. The 2005-06 FSU Most Valuable Player produced seven Top-20 place finishes and lead the Bulldogs with four top-five outings, including a team-best second-place tying effort at the 2005-06 GLIAC Championships. Mason garnered all-conference honorable mention laurels in 2004-05 and was a co-recipient of the squad's Bulldog Award for hard work and dedication in the 2003-04 campaign. He was the 2005-06 team's honoree of the FSU President's Academic Award for having the team's highest cumulative grade point average and also received a FSU Dean's Academic Award. Mason, a recreation leadership management major, was recognized as a 2004-05 GLIAC All-Academic Team member.
Ferris State made its fourth straight NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region appearance this spring as the Bulldogs posted a seventh-place 902 team stroke total. Earlier in the season, FSU captured second place at the 2005-06 GLIAC Championships.