5/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
May 7, 2015
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LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - For the first time since 2011, a UNLV men's golfer has been selected as the Mountain West's Freshman of the Year. John Oda was announced as this year's winner as the conference released its 2014-15 awards on Thursday.
In addition, for the second straight year, three UNLV men's golfers were selected to the 10-person All-MW Men's Golf Team as seniors Carl Jonson and Kurt Kitayama, along with Oda, were honored. It marks the second straight year that Jonson and Kitayama were named to the all-conference squad.
Oda, from Honolulu, Hawaii, leads the Rebels in scoring average at 70.48 strokes per round, which ranks fourth in the conference. In 11 events this season, he has recorded nine top-20 finishes, including seven top-10 showings, an individual victory at the Sea Best Invitational and two runner-up performances. He has shot 12 rounds out of 33 in the 60s with his low round being 64. He also has shot 20 rounds at par or better. He is rated as the 29th-best player in the country according to Golfstat and is the sixth UNLV men's golfer to be selected as the MW's Freshman of the Year.
Jonson, a Brainbridge Island, Wash., native, is third on the team in scoring average at 71.76, which ranks sixth in the league. He has three top-10 finishes this season, including two in the top five. In addition, he has had 10 rounds in the 60s with his low being a 66, and has recorded par or better in 14 rounds.
Kitayama, from Chico, Calif., won the individual title at the MW Championship last weekend. He is second on the team in scoring average at 71.70, which ranks fifth in the MW, and he has recorded four top-10 finishes this season. He also won the individual crown at the Jackrabbit Invitational. He has seven rounds in the 60s this season with a low of 64 and has shot par or better in 19 rounds.
New Mexico's Gavin Green earned the league's Golfer of the Year award for the second straight year, while San Diego State's Ryan Donovan received Coach of the Year honors.
UNLV will be playing in a NCAA-record 27th straight regional, in Noblesville, Ind., which starts May 14.
2014-15 Mountain West Men's Golf Awards
Golfer of the Year
Gavin Green, Sr., New Mexico
Freshman of the Year
John Oda, UNLV
Coach of the Year
Ryan Donovan, San Diego State
All-Conference Team
Gavin Green, Sr., New Mexico
Sean Romero, Sr., New Mexico
Sam Saunders, Sr., New Mexico
Nahum Mendoza III, So., San Diego State
Ryann Ree, Jr., San Diego State
Xander Schauffele, Sr., San Diego State
Cody Blick, Jr., San José State
Carl Jonson, Sr., UNLV
Kurt Kitayama, Sr., UNLV
John Oda, Fr., UNLV
