FERRIS STATE MEN’S GOLF AWARD HONOREES NAMED

Griffin Named Most Valuable Golfer; Pair of Freshmen Also Garner Team Award

Chris Griffin	Jeff Carlson	Kyle Mason

The Ferris State University men’s golf team distributed its team awards for the 2003-04 season with senior Chris Griffin (Shelby) earning Most Valuable Player honors while two freshmen, Jeff Carlson (Holland/West Ottawa) and Kyle Mason (Mt. Pleasant), were named co-recipients of the Bulldog Award. The announcement was made by fifth-year FSU head coach Brad Bedortha.

Griffin, who didn’t compete in the fall season due to an internship, led Ferris State with a personal career-best 74.83 stroke average (898 strokes) in 12 rounds this spring which ranks eighth highest among the program’s all-time single-season leaders. He turned in top 20 placings in five tournaments, which included four in the top 10. Griffin captured top individual honors at the Hillsdale Invitational (April 24-25) with a two-round 142-stroke total before placing 23rd at the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Super Regional (May 3-5) in Union, Ky. Griffin, who was the top performer in three of team’s six spring tourneys, tied for second-place honors at the Findlay (Ohio) Oiler Invitational (April 9-10) after registering a 147 score for 36 holes. A two-time (2002-03) Cleveland Golf Division II All-America Scholar and a two-time (2001-02) Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) All-Academic selection, Griffin posted a 76.18 career average in 61 rounds. He accumulated 18 top-20 performances during his career, which included 13 top-10 outings. Griffin notched Ferris State’s top score at the 2002 NCAA-II Championships (May 21-24) in Howey-in-the Hills, Fla., with an 18th-place tying 299 stroke four-round total.

Carlson and Mason were both winners of the Bulldog Award, which is given annually to a men’s golf team member who has demonstrated the most dedication and hard work throughout the season.

A 2003-04 All-GLIAC Honorable Mention selection, Carlson compiled a 76.84 average (1,921 strokes) in 25 rounds this campaign to place sixth among the team’s leaders. He totaled six top-20 placings, including five top-10 performances. His best outing of the season was a second-place tying 147 score at the Findlay (Ohio) Oiler Invitational. Carlson tied for 21st place at the GLIAC Championships (Oct. 6-7) in Erie, Pa., and paced the Bulldogs with a seventh-place 225-stroke total at the NCAA-II Great Lakes Super Regional (May 3-5) in Union, Ky.

Mason placed fifth on the squad with a 76.78 average (1,766 strokes) in 23 rounds of competition this campaign. He finished among the top 20 golfers in six tournaments, which included a personal season-best second-place tying 147 two-round score at the Findlay (Oiler) Invitational. Mason carded a three-round 224 total to claim 12th place at the GLIAC Championships and tied for 32nd place at the NCAA-II Great Lakes Super Regional as a result of firing a 238 score.

The Bulldogs closed out their 2003-04 season at the NCAA-II Great Lakes Super Regional following a fifth-place 927 three-round total.