Following a stellar season in which he helped lead his team to the Big West title, UC Irvine's John Chin was named the Big West Men's Golfer of the Year it was announced today. Pace Johnson of Cal Poly also claimed a major award in the Freshman of the Year, while Anteater coach Paul Smolinski was voted as the league's Coach of the Year.
Chin, who hails from Temecula, Calif., becomes the second player in league history to win three consecutive Golfer of the Year awards (Travis Bertoni, Cal Poly - 2004-06). His senior season has been rife with achievement...four medalist honors, 10 top 10 finishes, medalist honors at the Big West Championship, a #6 ranking in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings and the #1 slot in the Golfstat Cup. He was also named to the United States team for the Palmer Cup and owns a league-best 69.8 stroke average.
Johnson, a native of Fresno, Calif., is the second Freshman of the Year recipient for the Mustangs following J.J. Scurich claiming the inaugural award in 2005. He recorded the top stroke average on the club in his rookie season (73.0) and tied for the team lead in top 10 finishes with three. At the Big West Championship, Johnson recorded a first round 68 on his way to a three-round total of 218, placing him a tie for second overall, giving him the best score among first-year players and making him the lone Cal Poly player in the top 30.
Smolinski claimed his seventh Coach of the Year award, the most in Big West history. Now in his 12th season at the helm of the UCI program, Smolinski added the sixth conference title and ninth trip to the NCAA Regionals to his impressive career ledger this year. Along the way, the Anteaters recorded six top five finishes, 10 top 10 showings and won a pair of tournaments. The team is also currently ranked #54 in the current Golfweek/Sagarin ratings.
UC Irvine also claimed two of the six first team All-Conference spots, the only club to have multiple first team all-stars. Chin and Cal State Northridge's Nick Delio were named first teamers for the third time, while UC Davis' Austin Graham and Pacific's T.J. Bordeaux picked up first team accolades for the second time. The complete All-Big West teams are listed below:
Big West Men's Golfer of the Year
John Chin, UC Irvine
Big West Freshman of the Year
Pace Johnson, Cal Poly
Big West Men's Golf Coach of the Year
Paul Smolinski, UC Irvine
First Team All-Big West
T.J. Bordeaux, Pacific
John Chin, UC Irvine
Scott Clayton, UC Riverside
Nick Delio, Cal State Northridge
Austin Graham, UC Davis
Max Greil, UC Irvine
Second Team All-Big West
Kevin Fitzgerald, UC Riverside
Jerry He, UC Irvine
Brian Hollenbeck, UC Santa Barbara
Pace Johnson, Cal Poly
Pat Kucich, Pacific
Honorable Mention All-Big West
Jeff Freund, Cal State Northridge
Alex Johnson, Pacific
Benjamin Lein, Long Beach State
Shaun O'Meara, UC Irvine
Tyler Raber, UC Davis