The Colonial Country Club, The Friends of Golf (FOG) and the Golf Coaches Association of America have announced the 24 collegiate golfers named to the 2015 Ben Hogan Award Watch List, and only two schools have more than one on the list. Sun Devil juniors Jon Rahm and Max Rottluff are officially in the mix for the award, known as the most prestigious award in men’s college golf.
Rahm won the Bill Cullum Invitational in the fall, and in his past two tournaments he has finished second at the Prestige at PGA West and the Southern Highlands Masters. He has posted 15 rounds (out of 21) in the 60s, and has a 68.86 stroke average. His 3.89 scoring average on par-4 holes is tied for best in the nation, while his 68.86 average is third-best in the nation. He has 28 eagles in his career, including six this season.
Rahm's 12-under 272 (70-68-66-68) at the Waste Management Open in late January fell just short of his quest to be the first amateur to win a PGA Tour event since Phil Mickelson won the Northern Telecom Open in 1991, but that certainly doesn't diminish what happened during the week. He hit 51-of-72 greens in regulation and had an average drive of more than 300 yards. The only amateur in the field of 132, the two-time honorable mention All-American had his way with the par-71, 7,266-yard TPC Scottsdale layout.
The 20-year-old became the first amateur to finish in the top-five of a PGA TOUR event since Chris Wood (fifth) at the 2008 British Open and Justin Rose (tied for fourth) at the 1998 British Open.
Rottluff won the Alister MacKenzie Invitational and the Arizona Intercollegiate earlier this year and has a 69.17 stroke average in eight events. He has 109 birdies on the year, fourth-best in the nation.
SUN DEVIL COLLEGIATE MEDALISTS UNDER TIM MICKELSON
Max Rottluff (Jr.), 2015 Arizona Intercollegiate (Jan. 26-27)
Jon Rahm (Jr.), 2014 Bill Cullum Invitational (Oct. 20-21)
Max Rottluff (Jr.), 2104 Alister MacKenzie Invitational (Oct. 13-14)
Jon Rahm (So.), 2014 ASU Thunderbird Invitational (Mar. 21-23)
Jon Rahm (Fr.), 2013 San Diego Classic (Mar. 11-12)
Jon Rahm (Fr.), 2012 Bill Cullum Invitational (Oct. 21-22)
Spencer Fletcher (Sr./co-medalist), 2011 Bill Cullum Invitational (Sept. 17-18)
The Ben Hogan Award is presented annually to the top men’s NCAA Division I, II or III, NAIA or NJCAA college golfer taking into account all collegiate and amateur competitions during the past 12-month period. The Ben Hogan Award Selection Committee, which votes during each stage of the process, is comprised of leaders in professional, amateur and collegiate golf.
The 2015 Ben Hogan Award Watch List, as determined by the award’s subcommittee, includes: Jimmy Beck (Kennesaw State), Brian Campbell (Illinois), Charlie Danielson (Illinois), Bryson Dechambeau (SMU), Thomas Detry (Illinois), Matt Gilchrest (Auburn), Gavin Green (New Mexico), Rico Hoey (Southern California), Beau Hossler (Texas), Kyle Jones (Baylor), Jack Maguire (Florida State), Denny McCarthy (Virginia), Lee McCoy (Georgia), Maverick McNealy (Stanford), Cheng-Tsung Pan (Washington), Jon Rahm (Arizona State), Max Rotluff (Arizona State), Xander Schauffele (San Diego State), Ollie Schniederjans (Georgia Tech), Robby Shelton (Alabama), Clement Sordet (Texas Tech), Hunter Stewart (Vanderbilt), Scott Vincent (Virginia Tech) and Will Zalatoris (Wake Forest).
The list of 10 semifinalists, which could include individuals not on the current list, will be unveiled on Wednesday, April 15. On Wednesday, May 6, that group will be pared down to three finalists. The winner will be crowned at a black-tie banquet at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, on Monday, May 18, prior to the start of the PGA TOUR’s Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.
To find the latest information on The Ben Hogan Award, its candidates and its previous winners, visit TheBenHoganAward.org and follow @BenHoganAward on Twitter.
The Ben Hogan Award Watch List includes 11 seniors, six juniors, six sophomores and one freshman.
The list includes each of the top 10 players in the latest Golfweek/Sagarin individual rankings and 17 are currently ranked among the top 25. It also contains each of the top 10 players and 19 of the top 25 golfers in the most recent Golfstat rankings. The list includes six of the top 10 golfers and 14 of the top 25 players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. It also boasts eight of the top 10 golfers and 13 of the top 25 players in the Scratch Players World Amateur Ranking.