Patrick Rodgers
By Cassie Stein, Golfweek
This week, Stanford’s Patrick Rodgers was the only player that helped himself and boosted his resume on the 2014 Haskins Award Watch List. Rodgers picked up his third victory of the season at the prestigious Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters on March 9.
Other players such as Alabama’s Robby Shelton and New Mexico’s Gavin Green made minor movement toward the top of the Watch List, while California’s Brandon Hagy, Alabama’s Trey Mullinax and Texas A&M’s Ben Crancer shifted down a bit.
The Haskins Award, presented by Stifel, is given out annually to the best college player voted on by the players, coaches and media.
Here is Golfweek’s fifth spring edition of the Haskins Award Watch List, which takes a look at some favorites and notables heading into the bulk of the spring season. If a player is not on the list, he can most certainly play his way onto the list during the spring season.
• • •
1. Patrick Rodgers, Stanford junior
Hometown: Avon, Ind.
Golfweek/Sagarin College Ranking: 5
Golfstat Head-to-Head Ranking: 4
Events: 7
Wins: Erin Hills Intercollegiate, The Prestige at PGA West, Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters
Top 10s: 5
Top 5s: 3
Worst finish: T-21, OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational
Last finish: Won, Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters
The skinny: Rodgers was the only player to help himself this week and he did so by winning his third tournament of the year. He now has eight collegiate victories and is three shy of tying Tiger Woods for the most wins in school history. He only has five events left in his college career as he will forgo this senior season to turn pro.
• • •
2. Ollie Schniederjans, Georgia Tech junior
photoHometown: Powder Springs, Ga.
Golfweek/Sagarin College Ranking: 7
Golfstat Head-to-Head Ranking: 9
Events: 8
Wins: T-1, Carpet Capital Collegiate, U.S. Collegiate
Top 10s: 5
Top 5s: 4
Worst finish: T-30, The Amer Ari Invitational
Last finish: T-12, Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters
The skinny: Schniederjans was one of the few on this list that was able to play solidly at the Southern Highlands Golf Club. He shot 76-76-70, good enough to be the low-team player for the Yellow Jackets.
• • •
3. Robby Shelton, Alabama freshman
photoHometown: Wilmer, Ala.
Golfweek/Sagarin College Ranking: 2
Golfstat Head-to-Head Ranking: 2
Events: 7
Wins: T-1, Olympia Fields/Illini Invitational; T-1, Puerto Rico Classic
Top 10s: 4
Top 5s: 3
Worst finish: T-17, Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters
Last finish: T-17, Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters
The skinny: Shelton was in third place heading into the final round of the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters before a 77 derailed him. It is the freshman’s worst finish to date for the Tide, but he still led the team in Vegas.
• • •
4. Brandon Hagy, California senior
photoHometown: Westlake Village, Calif.
Golfweek/Sagarin College Ranking: 4
Golfstat Head-to-Head Ranking: 7
Events: 8
Wins: Jack Nicklaus Invitational; T-1, Arizona Intercollegiate
Top 10s: 6
Top 5s: 5
Worst finish: T-26, Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters
Last finish: T-26, Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters
The skinny: Hagy wasn’t the only player to struggle at Southern Highlands last weekend. It’s only Hagy’s second time to finish outside the top 10 in a tournament this season. His overall record – 542-51-15 – is still one of the best in the country.
• • •
5. Gavin Green, New Mexico junior
photoHometown: Malaysia
Golfweek/Sagarin College Ranking: 19
Golfstat Head-to-Head Ranking: 11
Events: 9
Wins: T-1, William H. Tucker Championship; Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic
Top 10s: 5
Top 5s: 4
Worst finish: T-31, John Burns Intercollegiate
Last finish: T-2, Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters
The skinny: He may have had his worst two finishes in his first two starts of the spring, but Green showed at the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters why he is one of the top players in the country. The T-2 finish bumps him up a few spots on the Watch List. Looks like he is regaining his form from the fall just in time.
• • •
6. Trey Mullinax, Alabama senior
photoHometown: Birmingham, Ala.
Golfweek/Sagarin College Ranking: 10
Golfstat Head-to-Head Ranking: 19
Events: 7
Wins: Isleworth Collegiate Invitational
Top 10s: 5
Top 5s: 2
Worst finish: T-58, Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters
Last finish: T-58, Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters
The skinny: Mullinax was the strongest contender to start the spring season, but has only one top 10 in this second half of the season. His other two starts were T-38 and T-58. He needs to garner more wins and regain his form to make a move on Rodgers.
• • •
7. Roman Robledo, Houston, Junior
photoHometown: Harlingen, Texas
Golfweek/Sagarin College Ranking: 19
Golfstat Head-to-Head Ranking: 22
Events: 5
Wins: Bayou City Collegiate Championship; SMU Querencia Cabo Collegiate
Top 10s: 3
Top 5s: 2
Worst finish: T-24, Fighting Irish Gridiron Classic
Last finish: Win, SMU Querencia Cabo Collegiate
The skinny: No competition for Robledo this week. Houston returns to play this weekend when the team hosts the Border Olympics starting on March 14.
• • •
8. Ben Crancer, Texas AM sophomore
photoHometown: Kirkwood, Mo.
Golfweek/Sagarin College Ranking: 14
Golfstat Head-to-Head Ranking: 40
Events: 7
Wins: Dick’s Challenge Cup
Top 10s: 4
Top 5s: 2
Worst finish: T-53, Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters
Last finish: T-53, Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters
The skinny: Like most of the top players in the Golfweek rankings, Crancer struggled with his game at the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters. His record against the top 50 – 20-41-3 – doesn’t help him in this case.
• • •
9. Joey Garber, Georgia senior
photoHometown: Petoskey, Mich.
Golfweek/Sagarin College Ranking: 1
Golfstat Head-to-Head Ranking: 6
Events: 6
Wins: Invitational at Ocean Course
Top 10s: 4
Top 5s: 4
Worst finish: T-19, Brickyard Collegiate Championship
Last finish: T-17, Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters
The skinny: Garber led Georgia with a T-17 finish at Southern Highlands for the second consecutive event. He still holds a .18 margin over Shelton for the No. 1 spot in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings.
• • •
10. Greg Eason, Central Florida, senior
photoHometown: England
Golfweek/Sagarin College Ranking: 13
Golfstat Head-to-Head Ranking: 10
Events: 6
Wins: John Hayt Collegiate Invitational
Top 10s: 5
Top 5s: 4
Worst finish: T-18, Shoal Creek Intercollegiate
Last finish: Won, John Hayt Collegiate Invitational
The skinny: Central Florida and Eason did not play this week. He’ll be in competition at the Schenkel Invitational starting on March 14.
• • •
Others in contention
Since the spring season is in full swing and more players are gathering wins and top finishes, here are some other notables that could get on the list at any time (in alphabetical order):
• Julien Brun (TCU)
• Wyndham Clark (Oklahoma State)
• Chase Koepka (South Florida)
• Denny McCarthy (Virginia)
• J.T. Poston (Western Carolina)
• Scott Vincent (Virginia Tech)