David Meyers, mass communications senior, was named the 2019-20 Sooner Athletic Conference men’s golf student athlete of the year.
The award honors both academic and athletic accomplishments of student athletes throughout the league. Athletes were nominated by sports information directors from member institutions, and all nominees were required to meet the minimum criteria of having been named to the academic all-SAC teams.
Meyers received a 3.387 cumulative grade-point average last semester. His additional academic awards were Golf Coaches Association of America all-America scholar, three-time commissioner’s honor roll and academic all-conference.
Meyers said he was excited to receive this award.
“It was awesome, really just very cool to hear I had won this award,” Meyers said. “It’s one thing to get a golf award, but getting specifically a student athlete award makes it just that much better.”
Meyers said the award is the first he has ever received honoring not only his athletic achievements, but his academic achievements as well.
“It’s not really my area, so to get an award like this was just so touching,” Meyers said.
Meyers said he thinks his educational dedication over the last year played a part in being nominated for the award.
“I kind of started working harder on balancing and managing my time better last semester,” Meyers said. “I feel like for school I was focused and successful regarding time management, and golf-wise I was really consistent in my game.”
Andy Crabtree, head men’s golf coach, said he also believes Meyers’ academic commitment makes him stand out.
“I am very proud of David for his commitment to earn his degree,” Crabtree said. “He puts in a tremendous amount of work. To be a student athlete and to accomplish what he has done, that doesn’t come easy.”
Crabtree said Meyers has a deep drive for success both on and off the golf course.
“A lot of people just don’t understand how many hours someone has to put into honing their golf game,” Crabtree said. “When he is tired after being on the golf course all day, he still goes home and does hours of homework.”
Meyers said he thinks his consistent athletic dedication and improvements also helped him in the nomination process.
“I think I only finished outside of the top five once at all of the tournaments last year,” Meyers said. “In the last year, my wedge game has gotten a lot better. I also think I’ve improved on putting a score together when I am not playing my best.”
Meyers closed out the 2019-20 season with a 71.44 stroke average per round, with 64 birdies and three eagles. He was named SAC player of the year, SAC men’s golf athlete of the year, two-time receiver of the NAIA all-American and all-conference awards, two-time Jack Nicklaus player of the year semifinalist, and NAIA all-freshman. He ranks No. 2 in OCU history in career stroke average (72.03) with five wins.
Meyers, originally from South Africa, said he hopes to continue his success in golf on the professional level after graduation.
“Eventually I want to play on the PGA tour here in America,” Meyers said. “I want to play some of the smaller tours before that. Hopefully after I graduate in May, I will be able to go and play on those smaller tours for a few years and see how that goes.”
Crabtree said he believes Meyers has the skill and work ethic to achieve his goals after graduating.
“We are producing winners, leaders and very well-rounded student athletes with both a commitment to academics and a commitment to golf,” Crabtree said. “We have had other OCU golfers go on to play professional golf, and we believe David is on the right path to do that, too.”
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