ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – Manuel Elvira and Juuso Kahlos have been named to the Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholars for the second consecutive year announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America Wednesday afternoon.
Recently graduated Elvira and Kahlos were prominent leaders for the Knights over their four-year careers as they led the squad to back-to-back NCAA National Championship appearances.
Elvira was the Knights top finisher in three events during his senior season with a low-18 round of 68 recorded at the Gator Invitational. He registered a 209 54-hole total, which he accomplished at the Kissimmee Regional to help his team earn their second straight NCAA National Championship berth.
The Santander, Spain native played in all 13 events this year for UCF with a 74.5 average and a low round of 68. The senior holds the third lowest 54-hole total in program history shooting 205 at the FAU Slomin Autism Invite in the spring of 2016. At the invite he also shot one of the lowest rounds in program history with a 64.
Elvira graduated in the spring with a degree in Finance.
Kahlos advanced his game during his final season as a Knight averaging 72.7 strokes per 18. His low round of 66 is his best round during his four years. The Espoo, Finland native boasts an individual title last season at the Hartford Hawks Invitational in South Kent, Connecticut in September. He finished with a low score of 207 (-9) with rounds of 66, 72, and 69.
During his stellar senior year, Kahlos was the top finisher for the Knights in three events. He also held four top 10 finishes and four top 20 finishes during the 2017-18 campaign.
Kahlos graduated in May with a degree in Sport and Exercise Science.
Together Juuso and Manny have made it to two NCAA National Championships, won the 2017 NCAA Murfreesboro Regional, placed second in the 2018 Kissimmee Regional, and collected 21 top five team finishes as they cap off their final season.
A new record number of student-athletes earned All-America Scholar status including 265 in Division I, 126 in Division II and 23 in NAIA. To be eligible for Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar status an individual must be a junior or senior academically, compete in at least three full years at the collegiate level, participate in 50-percent of his team's competitive rounds, have a stroke-average under 76.0 and maintain a minimum cumulative career grade-point average of 3.2. A recipient must also be of high moral character and be in good standing at his college or university.
