Norman Xiong of Oregon on Sunday received Jack Nicklaus Award presented by Barbasol, which is given to the top men’s golfer in Division I.
Xiong, a sophomore from Canyon Lake in Southern California, announced earlier in the week that he will leave school and turn pro, playing in United States Open sectional qualifying this week.
“I means so much to win this award with Jack Nicklaus’ name on it and to be Division I Player of the Year,” said Xiong, who became the second Oregon player to win the award, joining Eugene Wong in 2010. “It’s great to win this award, but I know I have a long way to go. The Jack Nicklaus Award makes college golf more elite.
“ … It’s definitely bittersweet (turning pro). I know I’m going to be really sad about leaving my friends. The guys at Oregon are basically my best friends now, and (Coach) Casey (Martin) has taught me so much. But I know I’m ready, maturity-wise. I know I’m ready for the next stage of my career.”
Xiong, who earned the Phil Mickelson Freshman of the Year Award last year, set at Oregon record by winning six tournaments this season, including the Duck Invitational, the Goodwin and the Western Intercollegiate in consecutive outings. He also won the NCAA Stockton Regional, the Rod Myers Invitational and the Nike Collegiate Invitational.
His season scoring average was 69.05 and he shot in the 60s in 23 of his 38 rounds while earning Division I PING First-Team All-American and First-Team All Pacific 12 Conference honors, and is the frontrunner for the Haskins Award.
John VanDerLaan of Florida Southern won the Jack Nicklaus Award for Division II golfers, and other honorees were Josh Gibson of Hope International University in Division III, S.M. Lee of Dalton State in the NAIA, Callum Bruce of Midland College for the National Junior College Athletic Association.
Xiong will receive an exemption to the 2019 Memorial Tournament on Nicklaus’ course at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.
Past winners of the Nicklaus Award for Division I include Tiger Woods (1996), Phil Mickelson (1990-92), David Duval (1993), Justin Leonard (1994), Stewart Cink (1995), Luke Donald (1999), Hunter Mahan (2003), Bill Haas (2004), Ryan Moore (2005), Justin Thomas (2012), and Jon Rahm (2016).
Winners of the Jack Nicklaus Award have combined for more than 200 professional victories around the world, including 23 major championships.
