July 25, 2014
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame men’s golfers Niall Platt, Patrick Grahek and Tyler Wingo were named 2014 Division I Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholars earlier this week, as announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). It was the second straight year that at least two Irish players were selected as All-America Scholars in the same season, a first in program history.
To be eligible for the award, an individual must be a junior or senior academically, compete in at least three full years at the collegiate level, participate in 50-percent of his team’s official competitive rounds or the NCAA Championship, maintain a stroke-average of 76.0 or below (Division I) and carry a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2. Each player is also expected to have a high moral character and be in good standing with his respective college or university.
A total of 207 players across Division I men’s golf received 2014 All-America Scholar status.
Platt claimed individual medalist honors for the second time in his collegiate career, spinning a four-under-par 66 during the second round on his way to a three-shot victory (71-66-72-209, -1) at April’s Oak Hill Intercollegiate. The Oak Hill triumph was one of many highlights for Platt during his senior campaign, which saw the Santa Barbara, Calif. native become the program’s all-time leading scorer with a final 73.17 stroke average over 122 career rounds. Platt was named to the all-ACC team, the first Irish golfer to earn all-conference accolades from the new league, and was tabbed to the Division I PING all-Midwest Region team by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) after leading Notre Dame with a 72.25 stroke average, four top five and five top 10 finishes in 2013-14.
Platt closed his career as just the second Notre Dame men’s golfer to ever qualify individually for the NCAA Championship when he tied for 34th place (80-77-73-230) at the NCAA Sugar Grove Regional at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill. in May. Platt joined Josh Sandman as Irish NCAA individual entrants, with Sandman tying for 65th place at the 2008 NCAA Central Regional in Columbus, Ohio.
Grahek was a breakout performer for Notre Dame last season, appearing in a career-high nine tournaments, including six starts. His 74.00 stroke average was the third-best total on the Irish roster, as were his three top 25 finishes. The Alpharetta, Ga. native tied for seventh place during the Talis Park Challenge in Naples, Fla. (74-72-74-220) to post a career-best tournament result, later equaling the feat one month later at Notre Dame’s own Oak Hill Intercollegiate (73-74-74-221). Grahek made his biggest mark during the inaugural Irish run at the ACC Championship in April, carding a final round five-under-par 67 to lead all Notre Dame players with a share of ninth place (75-71-67-213, -3).
Wingo appeared in seven tournaments during his junior campaign, earning the nod in the Notre Dame starting lineup on six different occasions. He posted a 75.86 stroke average over 21 rounds played, which included a career-best round of four-under-par 68 at the Invitational at The Ocean Course last October. Wingo logged a total of three top 25 finishes last season, with his best placement being a tie for 15th place at the season ending Oak Hill Intercollegiate in April.
Notre Dame opens its 2014-15 season on Aug. 31 at the Notre Dame Kickoff Challenge at the Warren Golf Course.
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