Preston Summerhays is one of just 10 underclassmen in the nation named to the 2023 Ben Hogan Award Watch List jointly announced by the Hogan Trophy Award Foundation, the Friends of Golf (FOG) and the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA).
Summerhays' recognition marks the second straight season that a Sun Devil has been named to the Watch List as David Puig and Cameron Sisk were on the 2022 edition.
Summerhays joins an elite group of Sun Devils that have been named to the Watchlist. Since 2002, 16 Sun Devils have earned the recognition. Jon Rahm is a two-time winner (2015-16) while Alejandro Canizares was nominated three times and was a semifinalist in 2005. Additionally, Chez Reavie was a finalist in 2002.
It's not the first Watch List honor this for Summerhays, who earned a spot on the Haskins Award Preseason List by the Golf Channel in August.
"It's great to see Preston on the Ben Hogan Award Watch List," Head Coach Matt Thrumond said. "It would sure be awesome for him to have a big spring and become a finalist in May. I think he can. I actually think there's a few guys on this team that can do that. It's always a good thing to have your name mentioned in the same paragraph as Mr. Hogan."
In his brief time at Arizona State, Summerhays has made a profound impact. In his true-freshman season, Summerhays was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and First-Team All-Pac-12. His 71.33 stroke average was the second-best mark ever by a Sun Devil freshman. Summerhays joined Cameron Sisk (2019), Jon Rahm (2013) and 2003 NCAA Champion Alejandro Canizares (2003) as Sun Devils who earned Pac-12 Freshman of Year.
The Ben Hogan Award presented by PNC Bank annually awards the top men's NCAA Division I, II or III, NAIA or NJCAA college golfer based on all collegiate, amateur and professional events over the previous 12 months.
Three of the top 12 players in the Official World Golf Ranking— Sun Devil Golf's own No. 3 Jon Rahm (2015, 2016), No. 5 Patrick Cantlay (2012) and No. 11 Viktor Hovland (2019) —are past recipients of the honor, while No. 8 Collin Morikawa (2018, 2019) was a two-time finalist.
The list of 37 student-athletes includes 20 seniors, seven juniors, seven sophomores and three freshmen. This year's list of 10 semifinalists, which could include individuals not on the watch list, will be unveiled Friday, April 14. That group will be pared down to three finalists on Thursday, May 4. The finalists will attend a black-tie dinner Monday, May 22, at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, where the winner will be crowned.
An esteemed selection committee votes during each stage of the process. The selection committee is comprised of more than 30 leaders in collegiate, amateur and professional golf.
The Sun Devils open the 2023 spring campaign at the Southwestern Invitational Monday. Summerhays will be joined by Ryggs Johnston, Gabe Salvanera, Luke Potter and Michael Mjaaseth. Josele Ballester will compete in the individual tournament.
Summerhays' recognition marks the second straight season that a Sun Devil has been named to the Watch List as David Puig and Cameron Sisk were on the 2022 edition.
Summerhays joins an elite group of Sun Devils that have been named to the Watchlist. Since 2002, 16 Sun Devils have earned the recognition. Jon Rahm is a two-time winner (2015-16) while Alejandro Canizares was nominated three times and was a semifinalist in 2005. Additionally, Chez Reavie was a finalist in 2002.
It's not the first Watch List honor this for Summerhays, who earned a spot on the Haskins Award Preseason List by the Golf Channel in August.
"It's great to see Preston on the Ben Hogan Award Watch List," Head Coach Matt Thrumond said. "It would sure be awesome for him to have a big spring and become a finalist in May. I think he can. I actually think there's a few guys on this team that can do that. It's always a good thing to have your name mentioned in the same paragraph as Mr. Hogan."
In his brief time at Arizona State, Summerhays has made a profound impact. In his true-freshman season, Summerhays was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and First-Team All-Pac-12. His 71.33 stroke average was the second-best mark ever by a Sun Devil freshman. Summerhays joined Cameron Sisk (2019), Jon Rahm (2013) and 2003 NCAA Champion Alejandro Canizares (2003) as Sun Devils who earned Pac-12 Freshman of Year.
The Ben Hogan Award presented by PNC Bank annually awards the top men's NCAA Division I, II or III, NAIA or NJCAA college golfer based on all collegiate, amateur and professional events over the previous 12 months.
Three of the top 12 players in the Official World Golf Ranking— Sun Devil Golf's own No. 3 Jon Rahm (2015, 2016), No. 5 Patrick Cantlay (2012) and No. 11 Viktor Hovland (2019) —are past recipients of the honor, while No. 8 Collin Morikawa (2018, 2019) was a two-time finalist.
The list of 37 student-athletes includes 20 seniors, seven juniors, seven sophomores and three freshmen. This year's list of 10 semifinalists, which could include individuals not on the watch list, will be unveiled Friday, April 14. That group will be pared down to three finalists on Thursday, May 4. The finalists will attend a black-tie dinner Monday, May 22, at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, where the winner will be crowned.
An esteemed selection committee votes during each stage of the process. The selection committee is comprised of more than 30 leaders in collegiate, amateur and professional golf.
The Sun Devils open the 2023 spring campaign at the Southwestern Invitational Monday. Summerhays will be joined by Ryggs Johnston, Gabe Salvanera, Luke Potter and Michael Mjaaseth. Josele Ballester will compete in the individual tournament.