April 12, 2007
Contact: Mike Christie, Sports Information Director

USA South Golf Awards Announced

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - The USA South Athletic Conference has announced its All-Conference awards for golf.  A total of 15 student-athletes have been named to the USA South All-Conference teams for golf. Methodist University sweeps the individual awards as Nick Bova is chosen as the Golfer of the Year, Josh Speight is the Rookie Golfer of the Year and Steve Conley is the Coach of the Year.

Bova, a senior from Bloomington, Illinois, in 14 rounds of play this season averaged a score of 73.3 which was good for third in the conference. Bova recorded 11 top-20 finishes including a three top-five finishes. Bova tied for medalist honors at the Tom O'Briant Invitational and finished second at the Jekyll Island Collegiate Invitational. Bova's round of 67 at the Jekyll Island Tournament is tied for the second-lowest round in the conference this season. For his efforts, Bova earns the third All-Conference honor of his career as he receives First-Team accolades this season to go along with his first-team honor last season and his second-team placement in 2005.

A freshman from Gloucester Point, Virginia, Speight posted a USA South rookie-best 73.3 stroke average in 12 rounds this season. Speight's best performance of the season came at the Camp Lejeune Scarlet Tournament as he placed fourth by shooting a one-under 71. Speight's best round came at the Camp Lejeune Intercollegiate Tournament as he shot a one-under 69.

Conley is in his 20th year at the helm of the Monarchs and earns USA South Coach of the Year honors for the second consecutive season and the 14th time in his career. He has guided his team to a conference best 292.5 team-stroke average in seven events this season. In each event, at least one Monarch golfer has finished in the top-five. Methodist placed first in three events this season and finished in the top-seven in each tournament it participated in.

Player of the Year
Nick Bova, Methodist

Rookie of the Year
Josh Speight, Methodist

Coach of the Year
Steve Conley, Methodist

The 2007 USA South Golf All-Conference Teams follow:

First Team Nick Bova, Methodist Matt Bova, Methodist Jake Pleczkowski, Methodist Brad Hartman, Averett Josh Speight, Methodist

Second Team Trey Howell, Methodist Nick Sortino, Averett Josh Cumming, Greensboro Matt Hopkins, Christopher Newport John Corbin, Christopher Newport

Honorable Mention
Paul Suhr, Greensboro
Joseph Orsino, Shenandoah
Taylor Chamberlin, Shenandoah
Joe Goldschmidt, Averett
Brock Elder, Greensboro