Will Zalatoris Named ACC Player of the Year
5/11/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeMGolf)
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Wake Forest junior golfer Will Zalatoris was named the 2017 ACC Player of the Year as the league announced this year's awards on Thursday (May 11). Zalatoris was also one of three Demon Deacons named All-ACC, joined by junior Paul McBride and sophomore Cameron Young.
Zalatoris becomes the third Demon Deacon to be named ACC Player of the Year since the award debuted 25 years ago. Bill Haas was a two-time ACC Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004 and Webb Simpson received the honor in 2008. Zalatoris also becomes the 11th player in program history to be a three-time All-ACC selection.
Zalatoris is currently ranked No. 4 in both the GolfStat and Golf Week individual rankings. His 70.00 scoring average this season is the second lowest in program history, trailing only Bill Haas' 68.93 in 2003-04. In 10 events this season, Zalatoris has eight top-10 finishes, including a victory at the General Hackler Championship and runner-up finishes at the Rod Myers Invitational, Valspar Collegiate and 3M Augusta Invitational. Of his 29 rounds this season, 22 have been at par or better, highlighted by a season-low 65 at the Rod Myers Invitational. Zalatoris was honored as the ACC Player of the Month in March.
The Deacs have three All-ACC selections for the first time since 2004 when Bill Haas, Sean Moore and Kyle Reifers were honored.
Paul McBride earned All-ACC accolades for the first time in his career. Currently ranked No. 36 in the Golf Week rankings, he has a stroke average of 71.34 this season. McBride has four top-five finishes in 2016-17, including a runner-up finish at last month's ACC Championship. He was named the ACC Co-Player of the Month in April.
Cameron Young also earned All-ACC honors for the first time. Ranked No. 118 nationally by GolfStat, he has a scoring average of 72.74 this season. He posted four top-20 finishes in eight starts this season, including a top-10 at the Rod Myers Invitational.
Wake Forest will return to action May 15-17 with the NCAA Austin Regional in Texas. The top five teams at the event will advance to the NCAA Championships, held May 26-31 in Sugar Grove, Ill.
