July 26, 2017
AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn's Matt Gilchrest and Ryan Benton were named Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholars, the Golf Coaches Association of America announced on Wednesday. Gilchrest earned the honor for the second consecutive year.
Gilchrest made the cut and tied for 42nd at 10-under in his professional PGA Tour debut in The Barbasol this past weekend, earning $11,326. The Southlake, Texas, native averaged 72.25 strokes per round as a senior this past season and was a finalist for the prestigious Byron Nelson Award.
An All-NCAA West Lafayette Regional selection, he tied for third in the event at 2-under leading the Tigers to their sixth consecutive NCAA Championship appearance, one of only six teams to do so.
Gilchrest was named to the SEC Community Service Team and his 64 in the Inverness Intercollegiate tied his career low and tied for the second lowest round in Auburn history, one off the record.
Benton, who had a 73.16 stroke average as a senior this past season, had two top four finishes in four tournaments in the fall and three top 10s overall. The Dothan, Ala., native finished in a three-way tie for runner-up one shot off the medalist in the season-opening Carpet Capital Collegiate at 10-under. He tied for fourth in the Inverness Intercollegiate.
A new record number of student-athletes earned All-America Scholar status including 260 in Division I. To be eligible for Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar status an individual must be a junior or senior academically, compete in at least three full years at the collegiate level, participate in 50-percent of his team's competitive rounds, have a stroke-average under 76.0 in Division I and maintain a minimum cumulative career grade-point average of 3.2. A recipient must also be of high moral character and be in good standing at his college or university.
The duo helped lead Auburn to placing 11th in the 2017 NCAA Championship, the Tigers' fourth-best finish in school history.