THREE REBEL GOLFERS EARN ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST HONORS
Jonson, Kitayama and Thomas all named to all-conference team for first time
For the first time since 2008, three UNLV student-athletes have been selected to the 10-person All-Mountain West Men’s Golf Team, as the conference announced its 2013-14 awards on Thursday.
Juniors Carl Jonson and Kurt Kitayama, and sophomore Zane Thomas were the three Rebels named to the squad, all for the first time in their careers.
Jonson, a Brainbridge Island, Wash., native, is second on the team in scoring average (72.64) and 10th in the conference. In 10 events this season, he has recorded three top-10 finishes with his best performance of the year being a fourth-place showing at the Jackrabbit Invitational. He has recorded 15 rounds at par or better and has three in the 60s with a low of 67.
Kitayama, from Chico, Calif., leads the team in scoring average (72.18) and is seventh in the conference. He has five top-10 finishes this year, including three in the top five. His top finish was when he earned medalist honors at the Jackrabbit Invitational. He has recorded 17 rounds of par or better this season, including four in the 60s with a low of 68.
Thomas, from Las Vegas, is third on the team in scoring average (73.48) and 18th in the conference. He has three top-10 finishes this season, including two in the top five. His top finish was a second-place showing at the Carmel Cup. He has recorded eight rounds of par or better this year, including two in the 60s with a low of 68.
New Mexico’s Gavin Green earned the league’s Golfer of the Year award, while San Diego State’s Ricky DeSantis was named Freshman of the Year and New Mexico’s Glen Millican received Coach of the Year honors.
The field for the 2014 NCAA Men’s Golf Regionals will be announced on Monday, May 5, live on the Golf Channel from 7-8 a.m. PT during the show Morning Drive. The show will also be streamed live on the Golf Channel website and posted afterwards on the NCAA website. The selections news release will also be available at NCAA.com within 30 minutes after the completion of the Morning Drive show.
The Rebels are looking to be invited to a NCAA-record 26th-straight regional.
-UNLV-
2013-14 Mountain West Men’s Golf Awards
Golfer of the Year
Gavin Green, Jr., New Mexico
Freshman of the Year
Ricky DeSantis, San Diego State
Coach of the Year
Glen Millican, New Mexico
All-Conference Team
Kyle Westmoreland, Sr., Air Force
Gavin Green, Jr., New Mexico
Victor Perez, Jr., New Mexico
Ricky DeSantis, Fr., San Diego State
Riccardo Michelini, So., San Diego State
Xander Schauffele, Jr., San Diego State
Cody Blick, So., San José State
Carl Jonson, Jr., UNLV
Kurt Kitayama, Jr., UNLV
Zane Thomas, So., UNLV
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