Michael Putnam Honored with Prestigious 2005 Byron Nelson Award
6/3/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
June 3, 2005
Owings Mills, MD - Senior All-American Michael Putnam, who is putting together the greatest season of any Pepperdine's men's golfer in school history, was named the recipient of the 2005 Byron Nelson Award, The Golf Coaches Association of America announced on Friday.
The award, which is presented by Cleveland Golf, in cooperation with the Four Seasons Resort and Club Las Colinas and the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, is presented to a graduating senior and the selection committee considers equally a nominee's entire collegiate academic career, collegiate golf career and his character and integrity while in college.
Particular consideration is given to a nominee's good citizenship, as portrayed by Mr. Byron Nelson over the course of his life and golf career. Putnam becomes the second Pepperdine golfer - Jason Allred (2002) was the inaugural recipient - to win the award in its four-year history.
Putnam is currently leading the 2005 Division I Men's Golf Championships heading into Saturday's final round and looking to become the first men's golfer in school history to win an individual title.
Earlier this week, Putnam was named All-Pacific Region and a Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar after previously receiving All-West Coast Conference (WCC) accolades and WCC All-Academic.
The MVP of last summer's USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship, Putnam has earned medalist honors once this season along with two runner-up, four top-five, and an eighth-place finish.
A Tacoma, Wash., product, Putnam is Pepperdine's leader in career stroke average and is on pace to break his own single-season record of 71.00. Heading into this week's national championships, Putnam had a season stroke average of 70.73 in 41 rounds.
A semifinalist for the Ben Hogan Award and member of the 2005 U.S. Palmer Cup presented by Monster team, he has twice earned All-America honors as well as earning All-WCC honors three times and WCC Golfer of the Year once.
