Pete Uihlein, a junior at Oklahoma State was named the winner of the Ben Hogan Award Monday, May 16, in Forth Worth.
The Hogan Award is given each year to the best collegiate golfer, regardless of classificaiton. The award also takes into consideration the golfer's entire year and includese tournaments not related to their college.
Uihlein is the fifth Oklahoma State golfer to receive this award. Teammate Kevin Tway was also a finalist, marking the first time two golfers from the same school have been finalist. Patrick Cantlay of UCLA was the other finalist.
“When I was growing up and talking about Oklahoma State, I wanted to be a part of a tradition that was second to none. To be a part of a team at Oklahoma State with the nucleus that we have and to be a part of that tradition is truly remarkable” Uihlein said. “I want to thank the coaches, Coach McGraw and Coach Bratton. I will be back next year for my senior year and I wish I could go more. I truly love it there. I can truly say that I would not be standing up here if I would have gone anywhere other than Oklahoma State.”
The reigning U.S. Amateur champion, Uihlein won the Sahalee Players Championship and Dixie Amateur during the past year as well. He tallied a runner-up finish at the Porter Cup, posted a seventh-place finish at the Sunnehanna Amateur and a fourth-place showing at the World Amateur Team Championship. Additionally, Uihlein made the cut this spring at the PGA Tour’s Transitions Championship and also competed at The Masters.
Last September, he was named the recipient of the Mark H. McCormack Medal, which is presented by The R&A to the top-ranked golfer in the World Amateur Golf Ranking at the end of the amateur season and following the European and U.S. Amateur Championships.
An Orlando, Fla. native, Uihlein was runner-up at the 2010 NCAA Championships and was recently named the Big 12 Player of the Year. Uihlein has claimed medalist honors twice this season at the collegiate level, winning the Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational and The Aggie Invitational. He has posted four other top-five finishes this year, including runner-up showings at the Ping/Golfweek Preview and the Jack Nicklaus Invitational.
Oklahoma State is currently the top-ranked team in Division 1. The Cowboys recently won the Big-12 tournament and next week will be competing in the regionals in Colorado.
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