University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia's Kirk Wins Ben Hogan Award
May 21, 2007 | Men's Golf
NORMAN, Okla. --- Georgia senior Chris Kirk was chosen as the recipient of the 2007 Ben Hogan Award on Monday, according to an announcement by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
The Hogan Award is presented annually to the nation's top college golfer, taking into account all collegiate and amateur competitions during the last 12 months.
A Hogan Award finalist and PING First-Team All-American last year, Kirk has won four collegiate events the Carpet Capital Collegiate, the Western Refining College All-America Classic, the Schenkel E-Z-GO Invitational and the Linger Longer Invitational during his senior season. The Woodstock native now has seven wins, which is a school record. Earlier this spring, Kirk was named First-Team All-SEC for the third time.
Kirk also represented the United States at both the Palmer Cup and the World Amateur Team Championship last year and will compete in the Palmer Cup again this summer.
“I was ready to turn pro last year, but coming to the Hogan banquet last year and not winning gave me something that I wanted to come back and accomplish,” Kirk said. “I’m glad I came back for my senior season at the University of Georgia. I’ve really enjoyed the time with the team and had fun in Athens. To win this award is really special.”
The other finalists for the Hogan Award were East Tennessee State’s Rhys Davies and Oklahoma State’s Pablo Martin.
“We could not be prouder of Chris,” Georgia coach Chris Haack said. “I can’t think of anybody in the country playing better than he is this season. He is so steady, so consistent. He sets the bar very high for himself and his teammates, and our guys have responded to that. This is a well-deserved honor for Chris.”
Kirk has led the Bulldogs to five tournament titles this spring. Georgia will cap the season May 30-June 2 at the NCAA Championship in Williamsburg, Va. Kirk was the individual runner-up at the NCAAs in 2006 and he helped the 2005 Bulldogs win the national championship.
