NORMAN, Okla. – The Golf Coaches Association of America has named the University of Wyoming men's golf team an All-Academic program for the sixth straight year, the association's national office announced Wednesday. The Pokes recorded a 3.442 team GPA during the 2016-17 academic year, narrowly missing President's Special Recognition honors, which the GCAA awards to teams with GPAs of 3.5 or higher.

 

"I'm just thrilled for the kids," UW director of golf and men's golf head coach Joe Jensen said. "I give the kids credit, and I want to give credit to our academic unit, our administration and the faculty. We've created an environment with the expectation that academics are very important, and we put a lot into them. It's just part of our program. " 

Seven members of the Wyoming men's golf squad were named to the 2017 Spring Academic All-Mountain West team. One of the seven honorees was senior Ryan Wallen, who also became the seventh men's golfer in UW history to earn an individual bid to an NCAA men's golf regional earlier this spring. Additionally, four UW men's golfers received the Mountain West Scholar Athlete award for the 2016-17 academic year. 

To be eligible for GCAA All-Academic Team status, a team must record a collective GPA of at least 3.0 for the academic year. A total of 102 Division I men's golf teams earned the honor for the 2016-17 academic year, while Wyoming was one of five Mountain West institutions to garner recognition. Colorado State, New Mexico, Utah State and Nevada were also recognized.