USCA’s Atkins, UNCP’s Walor Named Academic All-Americans

TOWSON, MD – Peach Belt Conference men’s golfers Matt Atkins of USC Aiken and Jordan Walor of UNC Pembroke were named Capitol One Academic All-Americans on Wednesday.  The two were part of the spring At-Large team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), which does not cover golf specifically.  The award is widely regarded as the highest individual honor a student-athlete can achieve, as it measures success in the classroom and success on the course.  UNC Pembroke wrestler Shane Nolan was also included on the at-large team.

Atkins, who was a Second-Team selection, is USC Aiken’s 10th CoSIDA Academic All-American. He is now the 13th Pacer golfer to be honored nationally for his efforts in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America program does not cover golf specifically. Atkins is the first Pacer golfer to garner Academic All-America status on the Men’s At-Large Team.

Atkins put together one of the strongest campaigns in Pacer history in the 2011-12 season, leading the nationally-ranked Pacers with a 72.47 scoring average. The scoring average was the fifth-best single-season scoring average in Pacer history.

The First-Team All-Peach Belt Conference selection acquired three top-5 individual finishes this past year. He claimed individual medalist honors with a 6-under score of 210 at the NCAA Division II South/Southeast Regional at the par-72, 7,064-yard Jones Course at the Rock Barn Golf and Spa in Conover, N.C. Atkins carded a 70 in all three rounds en route to his first career victory.

In the classroom, Atkins boasts a 3.733 grade point average as a Business Administration major.

The 2012 Peach Belt Conference Golfer of the Year, Walor put the lid on his collegiate career on May 17 by finishing in a tie for 14th on the individual leaderboard at the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships at the Cardinal Club in Simpsonville. He concluded the campaign with a school record and PBC-leading 71.38 stroke average – the third lowest average in the PBC and the best stroke average since Clayton State's Will Wilcox posted a PBC record 71.06 stroke average during the 2008-09 season.

Walor, who ranks second in PBC history with eight career victories, won three tournaments this season, including the season-opening Honda of Columbia Fall Classic and the Magnolia Collegiate Invitational in March. He concluded his UNCP career with a 72.4 career stroke average, while posting 31 career top-20 finishes, including 18 tournaments in which he finished in the top-5 on the individual leaderboard.

The Capital One Academic All-America® Division II Men’s At-Large program includes the sports of fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis, water polo and wrestling.

To be eligible for Academic All-America® consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.

You can see the entire Academic All-America At-Large team here.