Thompson Named to All-Nicklaus Team
6/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
June 10, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - University of Alabama golfer Michael Thompson was named Tuesday to the inaugural All-Nicklaus Team. The Golf Coaches' Association of America announced the 20 honorees, drawing the team from golfers who played collegiately on NCAA Division I, II, II and the NAIA this past season.
The All-Nicklaus Team is named after Jack Nicklaus who, long before he was a major success on the PGA Tour, was a Big 10 and 1961 NCAA champion at Ohio State University. He helped create the Jack Nicklaus Award in 1988, an honor given to the top golfer in Division I, II, II and the NAIA. This is the first year for the All-Nicklaus Team. The team is highlighted by Nicklaus Award recipients Kevin Chappell of UCLA, Point Loma Nazarene's Sam Cyr, Scott Harris Jr. of St. John Fisher and Sonoma State's Jarin Todd. It also includes Jonas Blixt of Florida State, Oklahoma Christian's Bruno Buccolo, Jorge Campillo of Indiana, Oklahoma State's Rickie Fowler, Rory Hie and Jamie Lovemark of Southern California, Washington & Lee's Nathaniel James, Sihwan Kim of Stanford, Boise State's Troy Merritt, Cory Renfrew of British Columbia, Joe Schoolmeesters of Saint John's (Minn.), Wake Forest's Webb Simpson, Joel Sjoholm of Georgia State, Alabama's Michael Thompson, Brent Witcher of Valdosta State and Armstrong Atlantic State's Chris Wolfe.
Thompson, a PING First-Team All-American in 2008, is currently in San Diego, Calif., where he is competing as an amateur at the United States Open. He won a berth into the U.S. Open last August by virtue of his runner-up finish at the 2007 United States Amateur. He was a senior on the Alabama team in 2007-08 and graduated from the University in May with a degree in accounting. After competing for the U.S. Team at the Palmer Cup June 26-27 in Scotland, Thompson plans to turn professional.
2008 All-Nicklaus Team
Jonas Blixt, Florida State
Bruno Buccolo, Oklahoma Christian
Jorge Campillo, Indiana
Kevin Chappell, UCLA
Sam Cyr, Point Loma Nazarene
Rickie Fowler, Oklahoma State
Scott Harris Jr., St. John Fisher
Rory Hie, Southern California
Nathaniel James, Washington & Lee
Sihwan Kim, Stanford
Jamie Lovemark, Southern California
Troy Merritt, Boise State
Cory Renfrew, British Columbia
Joe Schoolmeesters, Saint John's (Minn.)
Webb Simpson, Wake Forest
Joel Sjoholm, Georgia State
Michael Thompson, Alabama
Jarin Todd, Sonoma State
Brent Witcher, Valdosta State
Chris Wolfe, Armstrong Atlantic State
Players Mentioned
