Ashton McCulloch Named Big Ten Freshman of the Year
5/4/2022 11:23:00 AM | Men's Golf
Three Spartans Named to First and Second Teams
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State freshman men's golfer Ashton McCulloch was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year on Wednesday as the conference office announced season award winners.
McCulloch was one of three Spartans to earn All-Big Ten honors. Senior James Piot was selected to the All-Big Ten First Team, while McCulloch and sophomore August Meekhof were named to the All-Big Ten Second Team.
"I'm really pleased to see our guys get recognized by the coaches in our league," MSU Head Coach Casey Lubahn said. "It's a great honor for Ashton to be named Freshman of the Year and join a short, but impressive list that includes James (Piot) and Ryan (Brehm). He was one of our best this year and really earned that honor.
"It's pretty impressive for James to be named to the first team. He had a lot of pressure on him all year after winning the U.S. Amateur, but when he is out on the course, he is a cool cat and has left a tremendous mark on our program. I'm proud of August and the work he's done this year. He's quietly become one of the best in our conference and he showed that last weekend at the conference championship. I think this is just the start of big things ahead for him."
McCulloch is the first Michigan State men's golfer to be named Freshman of the Year since Piot earned the honor in 2018 and just the third in program history, joining PGA Tour professional Ryan Brehm, who won it in 2005.
McCulloch was in the lineup for all 12 events this year and ranks second on the team with a 71.50 scoring average. His best finish was a tie for sixth place at the Quail Valley Collegiate when he fired an 8-under par 208. He has five top-10 finishes this year and nine among the top-20, which leads the team.
Piot earns All-Big Ten First Team honors for the third time in his career and this is the fifth all-conference award for the Canton native, who was named second team in 2020 and earned Freshman of the Year honors in 2018. Piot, who played in the Masters in April and has appeared in two other PGA Tour events this year, appeared in 10 tournaments and led MSU with a 71.27 scoring average.
Piot won his fourth career event in September, sharing medalist honors with classmate Troy Taylor II at the Island Resort Collegiate, shooting a 7-under par 209. He has one top-five finish this year, two among the top-10 and five among the top-20.
Piot's 71.27 scoring average this year is currently the lowest scoring average in program history, breaking the mark of 71.33 he set last year. Piot owns three of the top four single-season scoring averages in program history. His career scoring average of 71.96 is the best in program history.
Meekhof earns his first All-Big Ten honor after appearing in all 12 tournaments and finishing third on the team with a 71.82 stroke average. Meekhof was named to the All-Big Ten Championships team following a tie for third place with a 1-over par 217 as MSU finished in second place. He has two top-10 finishes this year and six among the top-20.
Junior Bradley Smithson was the Spartans' Sportsmanship Award honoree. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, the student-athletes must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports competition setting.
McCulloch was one of three Spartans to earn All-Big Ten honors. Senior James Piot was selected to the All-Big Ten First Team, while McCulloch and sophomore August Meekhof were named to the All-Big Ten Second Team.
"I'm really pleased to see our guys get recognized by the coaches in our league," MSU Head Coach Casey Lubahn said. "It's a great honor for Ashton to be named Freshman of the Year and join a short, but impressive list that includes James (Piot) and Ryan (Brehm). He was one of our best this year and really earned that honor.
"It's pretty impressive for James to be named to the first team. He had a lot of pressure on him all year after winning the U.S. Amateur, but when he is out on the course, he is a cool cat and has left a tremendous mark on our program. I'm proud of August and the work he's done this year. He's quietly become one of the best in our conference and he showed that last weekend at the conference championship. I think this is just the start of big things ahead for him."
McCulloch is the first Michigan State men's golfer to be named Freshman of the Year since Piot earned the honor in 2018 and just the third in program history, joining PGA Tour professional Ryan Brehm, who won it in 2005.
McCulloch was in the lineup for all 12 events this year and ranks second on the team with a 71.50 scoring average. His best finish was a tie for sixth place at the Quail Valley Collegiate when he fired an 8-under par 208. He has five top-10 finishes this year and nine among the top-20, which leads the team.
Piot earns All-Big Ten First Team honors for the third time in his career and this is the fifth all-conference award for the Canton native, who was named second team in 2020 and earned Freshman of the Year honors in 2018. Piot, who played in the Masters in April and has appeared in two other PGA Tour events this year, appeared in 10 tournaments and led MSU with a 71.27 scoring average.
Piot won his fourth career event in September, sharing medalist honors with classmate Troy Taylor II at the Island Resort Collegiate, shooting a 7-under par 209. He has one top-five finish this year, two among the top-10 and five among the top-20.
Piot's 71.27 scoring average this year is currently the lowest scoring average in program history, breaking the mark of 71.33 he set last year. Piot owns three of the top four single-season scoring averages in program history. His career scoring average of 71.96 is the best in program history.
Meekhof earns his first All-Big Ten honor after appearing in all 12 tournaments and finishing third on the team with a 71.82 stroke average. Meekhof was named to the All-Big Ten Championships team following a tie for third place with a 1-over par 217 as MSU finished in second place. He has two top-10 finishes this year and six among the top-20.
Junior Bradley Smithson was the Spartans' Sportsmanship Award honoree. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, the student-athletes must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports competition setting.
Players Mentioned
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