Alabama Men’s Golfer Robby Shelton Named Semifinalist for Jack Nicklaus Award

Alabama men’s golfer Robby Shelton was named as a semifinalist for the 2016 Division I Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award, the Golf Coaches Association of America announced Thursday.

The field of 30 semifinalists will be narrowed down on May 25, with the Nicklaus Award recipients being announced on June 2 during the final round of the Memorial Tournament. The award is given to five individuals, all of whom will be invited to compete at the Barbasol Shootout for a chance to qualify at the Barbasol Championship, held July 14-17 in Opelika, Ala.

Shelton enters the NCAA Regionals ranked No. 9 in the latest Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index. By winning three individual titles this season alone, Shelton now owns the school record of seven career tournament victories.

Shelton, who leads the Tide with a 70.44 per round stroke average this season, has captured medalist honors at the DICK’s Collegiate Challenge Cup, Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate and Puerto Rico Classic. The Wilmer, Ala., native finished among the top 20 in eight of the nine tournaments he has played in this season and now has 29 top-20 results in 31 career tournaments played at Alabama.

Earlier this season, Shelton was named a Ben Hogan Award Semifinalist for the third straight year.

Shelton will be looking to become just the second Crimson Tide men’s golfer to win the Nicklaus Award, joining former standout and current PGA player Justin Thomas who won the honor in 2012.