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Golf: Greg Eason, Player of the Year

For the second consecutive season, UCF senior Greg Eason has been named the best men’s golfer in his conference. Eason was announced as the American Athletic Conference Men’s Golf Player of the Year [1] Friday.

“There was no doubt in my mind that Greg Eason had earned the right to be the American Men’s Golf Player of the Year in 2014,” UCF head coach Bryce Wallor said. “For me it has not been the on-the-course accomplishments that have been so impressive, but the intensity and frequency of which he practices and prepares. Greg Eason has come to practice and qualifying every day with a goal of getting better and winning each day he steps on the course. This is a goal that is often talked about by many players but one that is rarely executed.”

Eason was also named to The American’s all-conference team. He was joined on the all-conference team by fellow senior Ricardo Gouveia.

“I am very pleased that Greg Eason and Ricardo Gouveia were named to the AAC All-Conference Team,” Wallor said. “These two seniors have worked very hard for the success of our program during their careers at UCF. It is an honor to have had the opportunity to coach two very talented and dedicated young men and to call Greg and Ricardo my friends.”

Eason leads the Knights with a 70.1 stroke average for the season. Of his 30 rounds this season, he has scored par or better in 22. He has finished in the Top 10 in nine of 10 events in 2013-14 and was in the Top 20 in every tournament. He also has two individual victories, winning the John Hayt Invitational back in February and taking medalist honors at the 3M Augusta Invitational in early April.

For Eason, the American Athletic Conference awards come on the heels of his selection as Conference USA Player of the Year [2] and First-Team All-CUSA in 2013. Eason was a PING First-Team All-America selection and All-Southeast Region honoree last season as well. As a sophomore, Eason was a Second-Team All-CUSA selection and an honorable mention PING All-America choice. He was the 2011 Conference USA Freshman of the Year and was also a Second-Team All-CUSA choice that season.

Gouveia ranks No. 2 on the Knights with a stroke average of 71. He has played 19 of his 30 rounds at par or better. Gouveia has turned in seven Top 10 performances and has finished in the Top 20 nine times in his 10 outings. He was the individual champion at the FAU Slomin Autism Invitational in late March.

Gouveia was a PING [3] and Golfweek [4] All-America honorable mention honors in 2012. He was also the Conference USA Newcomer of the Year that season. Prior to joining the Knights, Gouveia was a PING Division II All-America player as a freshman at Lynn University.

Eason, Gouveia and the rest of the Knights are currently preparing for play at the NCAA San Antonio Regional. The regional tournament begins Thursday at the Briggs Ranch Golf Club. The top five squads in each of six regionals will advance to the NCAA Championship.