David Meyers, mass communications senior, has been named the Sooner Athletic Conference male golfer of the year.
Meyers, who is now back home in South Africa, said he didn’t find out about the award until after the fact due to the university going online.
“It’s a big thing. I didn’t even know about it until two days after, when it was announced on Facebook,” Meyers said.
Meyers said he is honored to be the top contender of a conference with some of the best golfers in the NAIA.
“A lot of the top guys are from the SAC conference, so when you play these guys day in and day out, it’s special to know you were the best player on the list. I was just really happy to achieve something like that. It’s a big accomplishment for me going forward.”
Meyers said he knew he was having a good year when he became a finalist for the Arnold Palmer Cup, an annual international golf competition.
“That is what I was really set on. I didn’t know much about the player of the year. I didn’t know that could come out at any time, so that was a big surprise,” Meyers said. “It’s really nice to be named the player of the year and know that you’ve done the most you can for your team and yourself individually.”
Andy Crabtree, head men’s golf coach, said the player of the year is an honor voted on by the coaches, and Meyers had a stroke average of 71.44, the best in the conference.
“We played in six tournaments, and David was in the top five of five of those tournaments. One tournament he had an injury and did have to withdraw, however. In that tournament he did shoot his season low of 63, which is a very low golf score,” Crabtree said.
When the NAIA season was halted due to coronavirus, Meyers was sitting at third in the entire NAIA ranking. Crabtree said Meyers had ranked first previously in his university career.
“He achieved that ranking last year. Player of the year is for the conference, but he’s also been ranked No. 1 in the entire league,” Crabtree said.
Carson Seals, strategic communications senior, was named an NAIA men’s golf All-American, along with fellow golfers Meyers, Peri’Don Castille, and Santiago Chamorro. He said it was obvious early on that Meyers was at the top of the conference.
“David was a great competitor throughout our career at OCU, and he definitely had that natural talent to his golf game. You could see day in and day out that he had a passion for playing and a passion for winning,” Meyers said. “I learned a lot from Dave as we played together, and it’s awesome to have played alongside of him and win a National Championship in 2018 with that team.”
Crabtree said normally, this season would mark the end of Meyers’ eligibility for competition, but due to the cancellation of the season, all students have received an extra season of eligibility.
“It’s like this year is a do-over, so he will come back next year, and he will take classes in both the fall and the spring and will complete his degree, and he will compete again for Oklahoma City University,” Crabtree said. “He’ll be coming back, which is great news.”
Meyers said he plans to continue his golfing career after graduation with hopes to break into the professional scene.
“I want to turn pro when I graduate. I will probably graduate next May. I want to play some of the mini-tours in America,” Meyers said. “Other than that, just carry on playing college ball as long as I can, and then, once I get my degree and I’m done, I’ll start traveling around America in places like Arizona and California playing games, find a sponsor or company that can help support me, and become a pro golfer.”
Crabtree said Meyers is a continuation of a long tradition of OCU SAC players of the year and other successes.
“We have great facilities. We provide everything that a golfer needs to be successful in both school and on the golf course, so it’s made for a great tradition here,” Crabtree said. “If you look at all of the athletic programs at OCU, it’s not just golf, everyone is ultra-successful: women’s basketball, softball, baseball, women’s golf. All great programs. All national champions.”
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