From Emory University Athletics
Two members of the No. 12-ranked Emory men's golf team have been named by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) as NCAA Division III semifinalists for the Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award presented by Barbasol. The Nicklaus Award recognizes the top players at the Division I, II, III, NAIA and NJCAA levels.
Freshmen Connor Yakubov (Columbus, OH) and Stefano Butti (Palm City, FL) earned their way onto the prestigious list. The duo are among 30 Division III golfers who will be considered for the Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award.
Yakubov has played in all of Emory's tournaments this season, averaging a team-best 74.1 strokes over 19 recorded rounds of action. He has ranked as the Eagles' No. 1 performer on five occasions and has recorded four top-five finishes. Most recently, he finished runner-up out of 60 players at the Navy Spring Invitational with a 36-hole score of one-under 141 (68-73). His opening day mark represented the best outing by an Eagle during the year and tied the sixth-lowest score in program history.
Butti stands second on the squad in scoring average, posting an effort of 75.0 strokes over his 17 rounds of action. This spring, he has concluded three tournaments as Emory's top finisher. He was named Most Valuable Player of the University Athletic Association Championships after helping the Eagles to the league title. In addition, he spearheaded Emory's runner-up finish at the Wynlakes Intercollegiate (Mar. 28-29) by tying for medalist honors.
The finalists for D-III will be announced May 10 at the GCAA Division III National Awards Banquet in Rochester, New York. The event will serve as part of the festivities surrounding the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship May 10 through 13. Nicklaus Award recipients will be announced June 2 with the honor presented by Jack Nicklaus at a ceremony during the final round of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club.
The five recipients of the Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award will compete for an exemption into the PGA TOUR's Barbasol Championship, held July 14–17, at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National in Opelika, Alabama. The Barbasol Shootout will be held Saturday, June 4, at the storied Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio – the same club where Jack Nicklaus learned the game of golf as a young boy.