By: by KSU Sports Information
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State’s Jeff Karlsson was named Atlantic Sun Conference Men’s Golfer of the Year award today in a unanimous selection by the coaches of the conference. Karlsson becomes the first KSU men's golfer to claim the award.
"We're extremely proud of Jeff for receiving this honor," said KSU head men's golf coach Jay Moseley. "Any kind of award of this magnitude is great for this program. It says a lot, not just about Jeff, but about the program and the quality of players that we have in it."
Karlsson, a junior, picked up his wins at the Sam Hall Intercollegiate, Seminole Intercollegiate and the A-Sun Championship, where he guided the Owls to the program’s first conference title. He also finished the season as the NCAA leader in stroke average (70.33). Karlsson is the first A-Sun golfer to claim both the Championship Medalist title at the A-Sun Conference Championships and the A-Sun Golfer of the Year honor since ETSU’s Gareth Shaw in 2008.
"Without question, Jeff was the best player in conference," said coach Moseley. "It was no big surprise to me personally, but it is a well-deserved honor and we're really proud of Jeff for receiving this recognition."
At the A-Sun Championship, Karlsson set three new program records for the event as his three-day total of 207, first round 67 and first-place finish all topped the Owls chart. In the NCAA Regional Championships in Gainesville, Fla., Karlsson fired a 69 and 67 in the final two days to earn sixth place individually at seven-under-par and help the Owls to third place and a spot in the NCAA National Championship for the first time in program history.
The Owls finished 26th at the national competition, where Karlsson carded a four-over, 220, to finish in a tie for 21st, a team-high. Karlsson capped the season as the eighth-ranked golfer in the GolfStat Cup Standings with 975 wins compared to only 22 losses – the 11th best record in the nation.
