Men's Golf

Fedorka Wins Nicklaus Award As Division III's Top Golfer

La Verne junior Mitchell Fedorka capped off a memorable 2009 campaign by winning the Jack Nicklaus Award Sunday as the nation's top golfer in Division III.

The award, given annually to the best college players in NCAA Division I, II and III and the NAIA, was presented by Nicklaus to Fedorka on Sunday prior to the final round of The Memorial, the PGA event hosted every spring by Nicklaus at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.

Fedorka was the top ranked player in the Golfstat Division III individual standings while enjoying an overall scoring average of 72.35 during the 2009 season.  At the NCAA Division III Championships he tied for the overall lead with a total of 285 (67-71-74-73) through four rounds before finishing second in a playoff in helping lead La Verne to a runner-up finish in the NCAA team standings.  

"This award is well deserved," said Leopard head coach Joe Skovron.  "There are some great players in Division III, but Mitch was consistently the best performer through the entire season."

A First Team All-America selection in 2009, Fedorka also earned All-West Region accolades in addition to being named Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Player of the Year.  He captured the SCIAC 36-Hole Championship with a total of 138 (66-72) as he helped propel the Leopards to their third straight conference crown.  His conference scoring average of 69.3 is a SCIAC record. 

Fedorka won three tournaments this season and only finished out of the top 10 on two occasions. 

"Mitch is the player that every coach wants," added Skovron.  "He listens, works hard, and performs in pressure situations. He leads by example."