Fort Worth, Texas – Colonial Country Club in conjunction with Friends of Golf (FOG) and the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) named Sun Devil senior Jon Rahm the 2016 recipient of the prestigious Ben Hogan Award presented by Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) Monday evening. Rahm represents the only two-time recipient of the award since its inception in 1990.
Paired with finalists, Maverick McNealy of Stanford and Beau Hossler of Texas, the Spaniard earned the award at a black-tie banquet hosted at Colonial Country Club in an event representing the commencement of the PGA TOUR's Dean & DeLuca Invitational.
Star-Telegram: Arizona State golfer Jon Rahm collects second consecutive Hogan Award https://t.co/P8AnJQQBHo
— DFW Sports Update (@DFWSportsUpdate) May 24, 2016
"To be the first guy to repeat makes it a magical night," stated an excited Rahm. "Just to know there has never been a two-time winner and for it to turn out to be someone like me, from a small town in Spain, to be the first one to do such a thing is definitely very important and very special."
v @littleJRmaza @Golfstat rankings
— ASUmensgolf (@asumensgolf) May 24, 2016
Birdies 165 (1)
Score vs. Par -1.91 (1)
Par-4 3.92 (T1)
Par-5 4.51 (2)
Scoring 69.38 (2)@GolfChannel
The award which is presented annually to the top college golfer– accounting for NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA divisions – takes into consideration all collegiate and amateur tournaments and is decided by a 25-person committee.
The senior has accumulated four wins on the season, 11 all-time and is a perfect 12-for-12 in top-10 finishes this year. He currently holds the best stroke average nationally at 69.38, and has registered 20 rounds (out of 37) in the 60s.
LEGEND! Jon Rahm is the first two-time @BenHoganAward winner. Congrats, @littleJRmaza! #BackToBack pic.twitter.com/mvIXHbQTH2
— Sun Devil Athletics (@TheSunDevils) May 24, 2016
Six days removed from medaling at the NCAA Albuquerque Regional, one would be hard pressed to identify a collegiate golfer on more of a roll than Rahm. The senior has claimed individual honors in three of the last four events in which he has competed, including the Pac-12 championships held Apr. 29-May 1.
By virtue of taking home the honor, Rahm has earned both an exemption into the PGA TOUR's 2017 Dean & DeLuca Invitational, as well as a $30,000 grant for Arizona State men's golf program.
Rahm becomes first two-time Ben Hogan Award winner
— The Ben Hogan Award (@BenHoganAward) May 24, 2016
Official release: https://t.co/eHINkBCahF #RahmRepeat pic.twitter.com/CoMjMSRp0B
Tuesday's victory constitutes yet another notch on Rahm's impressive collegiate belt. Boasting one of the most decorated career's in not only in program history, but in the 131-year antiquity of Arizona State Athletics, Rahm nears the completion of his Sun Devil career as one of the best to ever don the maroon and gold in any sport. With 11 all-time victories to his credit Rahm is the second winningest player in program history, only behind Sun Devil Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson.
JON RAHM COLLEGIATE TOURNAMENT WINS (11)
2016 NCAA Albuquerque Regional (May 16-18)
2016 Pac-12 Championships (Apr. 29-May 1)
2016 ASU Thunderbird Invitational (Apr. 2-3)
2015 Tavistock Invitational (Oct. 18-20)
2015 NCAA San Diego Regional (May 14-16)
2015 ASU Thunderbird Invitational (Apr. 3-4)
2015 Duck Invitational (Mar. 23-24)
2014 Bill Cullum Invitational (Oct. 20-21)
2014 ASU Thunderbird Invitational (Mar. 21-23)
2013 San Diego Classic (Mar. 11-12)
2012 Bill Cullum Invitational (Oct. 21-22)
MOST @ASUMENSGOLF TOURNAMENT WINS
Phil Mickelson (1988-92), 16
Jon Rahm (2012-16), 11
Billy Mayfair (1984-88), 8
Alejandro Canizares (2002-2006), 6
Charlie Gibson (1972-75), 6
Paul Casey (1997-2000), 6
Todd Demsey (1991-95), 5