ATLANTA (May 11) – Georgia Tech’s Bryce Molder has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year in golf for the second consecutive year, and teammate Matt Kuchar has joined him on the all-ACC golf team which was announced Thursday.
Molder, a junior from Conway, Ark., also won the player of the year honor in 1999 and has been named to the all-ACC team three times. Molder, who ranks third nationally in the Mastercard player rankings just behind Kuchar, won the ACC Championship this spring by four shots. He is second on the Tech team and second in the ACC in stroke average at 70.41, with seven top 10 finishes in 10 events and one other tournament title this year.
“I’m excited to have won this award for the second time,” said Molder, a two-time first-team all-America. “It’s very gratifying to get the recognition, especially because we play in the best golf conference in the country.”
Kuchar, the 1997 U.S. Amateur champion and the 1998 ACC Player of the Year, has made the all-ACC team all four years he has been at Tech. This spring, he tied for medalist honors with Molder at the Waikoloa Intercollegiate, and he finished fourth at the ACC Championship. He has eight top-10 finishes in nine events this year, and leads Tech and the ACC in stroke average at 70.33.
“It’s the third year in a row for us [getting the ACC Player of the Year],” said Tech head coach Bruce Heppler. “Bryce and Matt have dominated nationally and in our conference, and I contend the ACC is the best golf conference in America. To get the ACC Player of the Year is a real prestigious honor.”
Tech’s golf team, ranked No. 1 in the nation, will play in the NCAA East Regional tournament next week, May 18-20, in Moosic, Pa. The top 11 teams advance to the NCAA Championship, May 31-June 3, in Opelika, Ala.
