Like most other sports, the college golf season was ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite the cancellations of both the men’s and women’s NCAA Championship, originally scheduled to be held over the last two weeks at Grayhawk Golf Club in Phoenix, end of the year awards are still being announced.
While the Pepperdine men’s team wasn’t able to contend for the national title, senior Sahith Theegala took home the prestigious Haskins Award. Waves head coach Michael Beard earned some hardware, as well.
Six coaches were announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America and Golf Pride Grips as recipients of the Dave Williams National Coach of the Year Award: Beard (Division I), Georgia Southwestern’s Darcy Donaldson (Division II), Jim Ott of Illinois Wesleyan (Division III), Keiser’s Brandon Miller (NAIA), Walt Williams of Midland College (NJCAA Division I) and Darin Pint of Kirkwood (NJCAA Division II).
Beard’s Waves won three events in the shortened 2019-20 season and never finished outside the top five. Georgia Southwestern, Midland and Kirkwood earned four wins, with Illinois Wesleyan and Keiser each winning five times.
Golf Pride Grips Region, District Coaches of the Year
Division I
Northeast – Rob Shutte, Rutgers
East – Jerry Haas, Wake Forest
Southeast – Scott Limbaugh, Vanderbilt
Midwest – Mark Crabtree, Louisville
Central – Greg Sands, Texas Tech
West – Michael Beard, Pepperdine
Division II
East – Joe Tesori, Le Moyne
Atlantic – Dan Braun, IUP
Southeast – Darcy Donaldson, Georgia Southwestern
South – Jimmy Stobs, Barry
Midwest – Mike Horn, Wayne State (MI)
Central – Luke Calcatera, Arkansas Tech
South Central – David Lynn, Oklahoma Christian
West – Matthew Steinbach, Simon Fraser
NAIA
North – Chris Winkel, Grand View
South – Brandon Miller, Keiser
Central – Tom Harp, Wayland Baptist
West – Tina Barrett, Ottawa (AZ)
NJCAA Division I
District I – Zach Smith, Eastern Wyoming
District II – Walt Williams, Midland
District III – Chris Young, Hutchinson
District IV – Dave Jennings, Central Alabama
NJCAA Division II
East – Ronnie Key, Meridian
Central – Corbin Sebens, Parkland
West – Darin Pint, Kirkwood