Updated June 21, 2012
Justin Thomas added another honor to his resume as he was named winner of the 2012 Haskins Award. The award, which is voted on by Division I golfers and coaches, recognizes the nations top collegiate golfer. Thomas is the first Crimson Tide golfer to receive the award, which was given to Patrick Cantlay in 2011.
AJGA alumni who have received the Haskins Award include, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Charles Howell III, Tiger Woods and three-time winner Phil Mickelson.
For the first time, the winner of the Haskins Award will receive an exemption into the 2012 Greenbrier Classic at The Old White TPC, July 2-July 8.
Justin Thomas name was paired with a couple of golfs greats as he received prestigious honors during the 2012 NCAA Mens Golf Championships. The University of Alabama freshman from Goshen, Ky., was named the recipient of both the Jack Nicklaus Award and the Phil Mickelson Award.
The PING First-Team All-American helped guide the Crimson Tide to the NCAA Championships. Thomas, 19, began his collegiate career by winning his first tournament, the Carpet Capital Collegiate, and went on to capture three more wins including the Puerto Rico Classic, SEC Championship and NCAA Southeast Regional. His accomplishments in his first college season earned him SEC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year accolades.
Ranked No. 13 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, Thomas was a two-time Rolex Junior All-American. He recorded back-to-back wins at the Natural Resource Partners Bluegrass Junior in 2008 and 2009 and held off his Alabama teammate Tom Lovelady to win the 2009 FJ Invitational. With his win at the FJ Invitational, Thomas earned exemption to the Wyndham Championship, where he became third youngest player to make the cut at a PGA TOUR event.
Thomas is the first Alabama player to receive the Jack Nicklaus Award. Presented by the Golf Coaches Association of America, the Jack Nicklaus Award recognizes the nations top collegiate golfers. Since 1988, the award has been named after Jack Nicklaus, a Big Ten Conference and NCAA Champion at The Ohio State University.
The Phil Mickelson Award is presented by the Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation. The award honors the nations most outstanding freshman in Mens Division I golf. UCLA rising junior and AJGA alum Patrick Cantlay received the Phil Mickelson Award in 2011.