June 8, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Freshman Blayne Barber (Lake City, Fla.) of the UCF men's golf team was rewarded for his impressive rookie campaign Monday when he was named to the PING All-America Second Team. Barber, along with junior Simon Ward (County Monaghan, Ireland), also received Golf Coaches Association of America All-Southeast Region honors.
Barber, who recorded nine top-10 finishes during the season, is the first Knight since Robert Damron in 1993-94 to garner All-America honors.
The freshman concluded the campaign by tying for seventh at the NCAA Championship in Toledo, Ohio. As a result of his showing, UCF tied for 10th out of 30 teams. The Conference USA Golfer and Freshman of the Year, Barber competed in 12 events in 2008-09. He finished the season by placing in the top 10 in eight-consecutive tournaments.
Last week, he was one of five golfers named to the GCAA National All-Freshman Team. At the NCAA Regional in Sorrento, Fla., Barber helped the Knights to the title, finishing third at 11-under 202. In the final round, he registered a school-record 9-under 62. He also finished second in April at the C-USA Championship, which UCF also won in Sorrento.
In the team's second event of the spring, Barber took medalist honors at the Rio Pinar Invitational in Orlando. He ended the tournament at 12-under 204. Barber had 20 rounds of par or better play during the season. He paced UCF with a 71.14 stroke average.
In addition to receiving the league's golfer and freshman of the year awards, Barber was named to the All-C-USA First Team and the all-freshman squad.
Ward, the C-USA Newcomer of the Year, also participated in 12 events during his first campaign in Orlando. He registered two tournament victories and had 17 rounds or par or better, concluding the year with a 72.31 stroke average.
Ward took medalist honors at the C-USA Championship, finishing the event at 11-under 205. He also tied for first at the SunTrust Gator Invitational in Gainesville (205, -11).
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