Two Ferris State Men's Golf Student-Athletes Honored As All-America Scholars

*2010-11 Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholars Release* -- (PDF)

A pair of Ferris State University men's golf senior student-athletes, Kyle Wittenbach (Lowell) and Garrett Simons (Grand Ledge) have been named as 2010-11 Division II Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholars, the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) announced this Wednesday (July 20) afternoon. 

Wittenbach and Simons, who were selected as the Bulldog men's golf team's Most Valuable Player Award co-recipients for the 2010-11 season, were two of among 190 student-athletes to earn such recognition.  Approximately 49 hailed from NCAA Division II while 138 were from NCAA Division I institutions and three from NAIA colleges to attain All-America Scholar Team status.      

To qualify for Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar laurels, a student-athlete must be a junior or senior academically while competing in at least two full years at the collegiate level.  The individual is required to participate in 70 percent of his team's competitive rounds or compete in the NCAA Championships, have a stroke average under 78.0 in Division II, and maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2 in Division II.  The recipient must also be of high moral character and be in good standing at his college or university.

Wittenbach, who achieved All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) First-Team laurels this season as a result of claiming medalist honors at the 2010 GLIAC Championships (Oct. 3-4) following a first-place three-round 215 score, registered a team second-best 76.00 strokes average (1,976 total strokes) in 26 rounds this campaign.  He notched five top-20 place performances, highlighted by finishing among the top five individuals twice -- at GLIAC Championships and NCAA-II Great Lakes Region Tournament II-The Jewell (April 2-3). 

Wittenbach, a 2010-11 Capital One Academic All-District IV College Division Men's At-Large First-Team selection, concluded his two-year (2009-11) Ferris State career averaging 75.84 strokes per round (2,351 total strokes) in 31 rounds.

A marketing/professional golf management major, Wittenbach was chosen as a 2011 spring season recipient of the GLIAC Commissioner's Award and also named to the 2011 GLIAC Spring All-Academic Excellence Team for having at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average or higher. 

Simons, a 2010-11 All-GLIAC Honorable Mention selection, led Ferris State this campaign with a 75.56 stroke average (2,040 total strokes) in 27 rounds.  The two-time (2009-10 and 2010-11) all-conference selection produced seven top-20 place efforts, which featured five top-10 place performances.  Simons led or shared for top Bulldog team scoring honors in three tournaments this season.  

A 2009-10 All-GLIAC First Team pick, Simons concluded his three-year (2008-11) career at Ferris State averaging 75.42 strokes (5,506 total strokes) in 73 rounds.  He accumulated 15 top-20 place outings during his career with 10 of those efforts occurring amongst the top 10.

Simons, a marketing/professional golf management major, was named to the 2011 Spring GLIAC All-Academic Team for having between a 3.0 and 3.49 cumulative grade point average. 

The pair helped Ferris State make its ninth consecutive regional tournament appearance this spring as the Bulldogs turned in a 16th-place tying  914 score at the three-round 2011 NCAA-II Midwest/South Central Super Regional (May 2-4) in Georgetown, Ky.

The Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) is the professional association of men's golf coaches.  Established in 1958, this non-profit organization is dedicated to educating, promoting, and recognizing its members who participate in men's golf at all levels.  Through its established events and programs, the GCAA maintains a goal of increasing awareness and the status of men's golf.