The University of San Diego received the Mark Laesch Award, presented by GolfStat, as the top team in Division I college golf in terms of improved adjusted stroke average per round from the 2018-19 season through 2019-20.
The Toreros improved by 12.96 strokes during the season that was shortened by the Coronavirus pandemic to claim the award, which was announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
“The Mark Laesch Award is a true honor for us at Golfstat,” President Brian Laesch of Golfstat. “It is a tribute to the impact Golfstat Founder and my dad, Mark Laesch, has made on the game of college golf.
“To me, seeing the statistical improvement from season to season of these teams honored with this award represents the very foundation and driving force that built Golfstat—all the way back to the start. It is a great honor for us, and we want to congratulate all the recipients of the Mark Laesch Award for the 2019-2020 season.”
Led by Harrison Kingsley (pictured), a sophomore from Murrieta (home of Rickie Fowler), and Donald Kay, a junior from San Diego, the Toreros finished with an average team score in a round of 287.7 and recorded three top-five finishes in the shortened season, their most in five years.
San Diego Coach Chris Riley is looking for even more next season with seven letter winners returning, along with USC transfer Charlie Reiter and top recruit Andi Xu from Torrey Pines High.
Winners of the Mark Laesch Award from other divisions include: Division II: Goldey-Beacom (20.68-stroke improvement); Division III: Ferrum (30.44); NAIA: Grand View (11.30); NJCAA Division I: Eastern Arizona (9.80), and NJCAA Division II: Hawkeye (13.42).
