UW's Nick Taylor Wins 2010 Ben Hogan Award


The University of Washington's Nick Taylor was named the winner of the 2010 Ben Hogan Award Monday night at Colonial Country Club in Dallas, Texas. The native of Abbottsford, B.C., became the first Husky golfer in history to win college golf's equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.

"I didn't really expect this," Taylor told the audience after receiving the award. "Growing up in small town Abbottsford, Canada, golf is not the first sport you think of. It's always hockey. When I chose golf, I dedicated to it and I was determined to play well and it started all the way from junior golf all the way up to playing at the University of Washington. It's just been a ride that I've enjoyed with my team at Washington."

The Hogan Award 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. Taylor edged out Alabama's Bud Cauley and Georgia's Russell Henley for the award.

"What an amazing way to cap off a historic career at Washington," said Washington head coach Matt Thurmond, who traveled with Taylor to Dallas. "Having his name attached to Mr. Hogan is certainly fitting and appropriate. He deserves any and every award he gets. He is an amazing player, person and teammate. I suspect many more awards await him."

Earlier this year Taylor was named Pac-10 Co-Golfer of the Year for the second straight season. He is the only Husky to ever win the conference's nod as the top player and is just the fifth golfer in league history to win more than once.

Taylor had another stellar collegiate season and led the Huskies in multiple categories. He was a top-10 finisher in nine of 12 events and has a team-best scoring average of 70.89. His stroke average is the second-lowest in team history. Though Taylor finished in 19th-place, Washington won the NCAA West regional in Bremerton, Wash., last weekend by a whopping 29 shots and will be in Chattanooga, Tenn., June 1 for the NCAA Team Championship at the Honors Course.

Last summer, after finishing tied for ninth at last year's NCAA Championships, Taylor was low amateur at the U.S. Open where he tied for 36th. He spent 21 weeks at the top of the World Amateur Golf Rankings (from June 15 to November 4, 2009) after winning the U.S. Open sectional qualifying at Tumble Creek in Roslyn, Wash.

Taylor also won the Sahalee Players Championship and earned medalist honors at the U.S Amateur Public Links before advancing to the championship match. In addition, he finished in the top-10 in the Canadian Amateur (T-third) and Copa de las Americas (eighth) before tying for 34th at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational.

Taylor currently occupies the top spot in the Players World Amateur Ranking (SPWAR). The two-time First Team PING All-American also has the 2009 Mark H McCormack Medal in his trophy case. The medal recognizes the top-ranked golfer in the Royal & Ancient's World Amateur Golf Ranking at the end of each amateur season and following the European and U.S. Amateur Championships.

The state of Washington has boasted two previous Hogan Award winners, Ryan Moore (UNLV) in 2005 and Kyle Stanley (Clemson) in 2009.