Ben Hogan Award Semifinalists Announced

The Bank of America, in cooperation with Colonial Country Club, The Friends of Golf and the Golf Coaches Association of America, announced the semifinalists of the Ben Hogan Award last week.

The most presitigious award in men's college golf, the Ben Hogan Award is presented annually to the top men's NCAA Division I, II or II, NAIA or junior college golfer taking into account all collegiate and amateur competitions during the last 12 months.

The Hogan Award selection committee will announce its three finalists on May 2. The three finalists will attend The Hogan Award banquet on Saturday, May 13 at Colonial Country Club - the Saturday prior to the Bank of America Colonial - with the recipient announced that evening.

Eight of the 10 semifinalists are former AJGA members with remarkable junior careers. They are Ryan Baca of Baylor, Roberto Castro of Georgia Tech, Matt Every of the University of Florida, Andres Gonzales of UNLV, Brian Harman and Chris Kirk of the University of Georgia, Anthony Kim of the University of Oklahoma and Kyle Reifers of Wake Forest. Oklahoma State's Pablo Martin and East Tennessee State's Rhys Davies round out the ten semifinalists.

Baca finished his career with the AJGA as a two-time Rolex Junior All-American with two victories to his resume (2000 AJGA Henry-Griffitts Bluegrass Junior Invitational, 2001 AJGA OSSO Junior at Oak Tree). He was also a member of the 2001 West Canon Cup Team.

Castro was a three-time Rolex Junior All-American with two career AJGA victories (2000 AJGA Henry-Griffitts Rome Junior Classic, 2001 AJGA Greater Greensboro Chrysler Junior). He was also a two-time East Canon Cup Team member.

Every earned Rolex Junior All-American honors in 2001 and was victorious at the 2001 International Junior Masters. He had seven top-10 finishes during his junior career.

Gonzales had four top-15 finishes during his career with the AJGA. His top finish cam at the 2000 AJGA PING Phoenix Junior Championship where he finished in fourth.

Harman had an impressive junior career, earning Rolex Junior Player of the Year honors ini 2003 and 2004. He was named a Rolex Junior All-American four times and has five career junior victories, including the 2003 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. He was also a two-time Canon Cup East Team member.

Kim was a four-time Rolex Junior All-American and a three-time member of the West Canon Cup Team. He had an impressive 18 top-10 finishes during his career, including two victories (2001 AJGA PING Phoenix Junior Championship, 2001 Junior World Championships).

Kirk earned Rolex Junior All-American honors twice during his career. He had two AJGA victories (2002 Henry-Griffitts Rome Junior Classic, 2003 TaylorMade-adidas Golf Junior at Chateau Elan). He was also a two-time Canon Cup East Team memeber.

Reifers finished his AJGA career with three top-10 finishes with his best finish coming at the 1999 AJGA Buick Jr. Open, where he finished third.