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--> --> June 7: Former AHS golfer honored Ashland Daily Tidings NORMAN, Okla. - The Golf Coaches Association of America named Pepperdine senior and Ashland High graduate Jason Allred the first recipient of the Byron Nelson Award on Thursday. The award is presented annually to a senior men's college golfer who displays excellence on the golf course, in the classroom and in the community. "To think that someone has seen in me character and a passion for things I believe are important is encouraging and humbling," Allred said. "More than anything I'm excited and totally thankful that Mr. Nelson was directly involved. I can't wait for the chance to meet him." Allred is a two-time Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar and three-time All-Academic West Coast Conference honoree. He leads Pepperdine's student-athlete Christian group - The Goal - and posted six top-10 finishes this season. Allred finished second at the WCC Championships, third at the TaylorMade Intercollegiate and claimed medalist honors at The Club Glove Intercollegiate. Allred also earned third-team PING All-America status for his play during the 2001-02 campaign. To be eligible for the Byron Nelson Award, a student-athlete must be named to the Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar Team by the GCAA, be a senior at a four-year, degree-granting institution and graduate in the semester he receives the award. A nominee's proficiency in collegiate golf competitions, his success in the classroom and his character are all weighed equally by the selection committee. "It's a challenge in college to balance everything," Allred said. "I just try to do everything with as much joy and passion as I can. I believe that's what God has in store for me." The committee is comprised of the GCAA All-America Scholar Committee chair, a golf statistical analyst, a media representative, as well as representatives of Cleveland Golf, Four Seasons Resort and Club, the Salesmanship Club of Dallas and Nelson. The five finalists were: Allred; Wil Collins, University of New Mexico; Bret Guetz, Texas Christian University; Ben Leestma, Air Force Academy; and Steve Ratay, University of Notre Dame. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing