UF men’s golf senior Andres Echavarria named semifinalist for Ben Hogan Award

Senior Florida golfer Andres Echavarria (Medellin, Colombia) was named a semifinalist for the 2011 Ben Hogan Award, the Baird Private Wealth Management, Colonial Country Club, The Friends of Golf and Golf Coaches Association of America announced Wednesday.

The most prestigious award in men’s college golf, the Hogan is presented annually to the top men’s NCAA Division I, II or III, NAIA or NJCAA college golfer taking into account all collegiate and amateur competitions during a 12-month period.

Echavarria has finished in the top 20 in all six tournaments he has participated in for the Gators including one medalist honor. Outside of playing for Florida, he earned a second-place finish at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open, one of the top stops on the Nationwide Tour in March.

Oklahoma State had the most semifinalists with three and Auburn, UCLA, Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Augusta State and Stanford all have one nominee on the list.

Hogan Award finalists will be announced May 4. The three finalists will be invited to Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, for the Hogan Award presentation on the evening of May 16.