CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina senior men’s golfer J.T. Poston is among 20 collegiate golfers nationwide selected to compete in the 40th edition of the Sun Bowl Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic beginning Thursday, Nov. 6, at the par-71, 6,842-yard El Paso Country Club in El Paso, Texas.
The list of All-Americans includes five 2014 Palmer Cup representatives, four conference players of the year, four conference freshmen of the year honorees and a 2014 Masters participant.
Poston, a back-to-back PING All-East Region selection and a third-team All-America selection from Golfweek, enters the event ranked atop Western Carolina’s career scoring charts with a career average of 71.54 through 110 career rounds. Including four this fall, Poston has finished among the top 10 a total of 24 times during his four-year career – a number that includes 15 top-five finishes with individual medalist honors four times. He also owns three of WCU’s all-time top 10 single-season stroke averages.
Last season, the Hickory, N.C., native earned his second All-Southern Conference selection while becoming just the third Catamount men’s golfer to garner SoCon Men’s Golf Player of the Year accolades. Ranked No. 1 in the nation at one point during the season, he graced two prestigious watch lists last season, including the Ben Hogan Award and the 2014 Haskins Award, and was also listed on the short list for the United States’ Palmer Cup team. He additionally garnered Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar honors from the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA).
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Poston. “It’s a big tournament and a reflection on the kind of year I had last year. This is a chance to play with some of the best players from all across the country. I’m really looking forward to the opportunity.”
Through 13 rounds in the 2014-15 season, Poston has a 71.54 stroke average, which ranks second in the school single-season record book. He led the team in four of the five tournaments with a pair of third-place finishes.
“J.T.’s selection to play in the Sun Bowl Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic is a byproduct of his stellar season in 2013-2014,” said Western Carolina head coach, Bryant Odom. “It’s an honor for him to be an All-American and this event is tribute to these great players.”
Odom added, “I was fortunate enough to participate in this event in 2001, and I still have fond memories of the experience. J.T. – and the field – is part of a group of young men that will one day win PGA Tour events, play on Ryder Cup teams and win major championships. Western Carolina University is proud to have his representation at the tournament.”
Poston’s impressive amateur resume also includes an individual title at the Big “I” Championship prior to his freshman season, as well as winning the 98th Southwestern Amateur prior to his sophomore year. He also qualified for and played in the 113th United States Amateur held in August 2013.
The 2014 field of All-Americans for the Sun Bowl Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic includes 14 of the top 100 amateur golfers in the world, according to the World Amateur Golf Rankings, including third-ranked amateur Robby Shelton. The Alabama sophomore was tabbed the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Player and Freshman of the Year en route to being named the 2014 National Freshman of the Year.
Returning to the All-American Classic is defending champion Gavin Green from the University of New Mexico. Also making a second appearance in El Paso are Jonathan Garrick (UCLA), Jordan Niebrugge (Oklahoma State) and Ben Taylor (LSU).
Tournament festivities get underway on Friday, Nov. 7, at 9 a.m. CT with the Titleist Long Drive competition and the PING Putting Contest at the El Paso Country Club. The first two rounds will be played on Saturday, Nov. 8, beginning at 8 a.m. The final round is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. on Sunday. The event is open and free to the public.
Live scoring of the tournament is available online through GolfStatResults.com.
The Sun Bowl Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic is one of the premier college golf tournaments in the country. Some of golf’s brightest stars have traveled to El Paso, Texas, to compete in the tournament since its inaugural year in 1976.
“Western is proud to again team with the Sun Bowl Association to welcome the most elite college golfers in the country to El Paso,” said Jeff Stevens, President and CEO of Western Refining. “For 40 years, this tournament has brought the best college golfers to our city. The alumni of this tournament are now the legends of the PGA Tour and this week, El Pasoans will have the chance to see the future legends of golf perform here at El Paso Country Club.”
Each university represented by the Western Refining College All-Americans will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
Throughout the years, many Sun Bowl Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic competitors have gone on to pursue successful careers in the Professional Golfers’ Association of America and on the PGA Tour. Some of the past champions include Webb Simpson (2007), Ricky Barnes (2000), Notah Begay (1994), David Duval (1991), Matt Kuchar (1999), Davis Love III (1984), Chris Nallen (2003), Jerry Pate (1974), Nicholas Thompson (2004) and Tiger Woods (1995).
Alumni of the Golf Classic have gone on to earn more than $1.7 billion and win 634 events on the PGA Tour. In all, 145 colleges and universities have participated in the tournament, raising $753,000 in scholarship money for the participating institutions.