Villanova Golf Earns GCAA Presidents Special Recognition For Team Academic Success

NORMAN, Okla.Villanova was one of 60 Collegiate golf teams from all divisions Nationwide to earn the Presidents Special Recognition Distinction from the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) in an announcement made by the organization this week. The accolade is a result of the Wildcats posting a team GPA above a 3.5 for the 2021-22 academic year. This is the ninth straight year that Villanova has earned a Team Academic Award from the GCAA and the third consecutive academic year that the Wildcats have garnered Presidents Special Recognition status. The GCAA recognized a total of 186 programs Nationwide who reported a GPA of 3.0 or higher, including 37 at the Division I level with a 3.50 or higher mark.

This week’s Honor from the GCAA is the latest academic recognition for Villanova head coach Jim Wilkes and his squad. During the Spring 2022 semester the golf team led all Wildcats varsity programs with a 3.727 team GPA for the grading period. It was the second straight semester that golf had the highest team GPA. The accomplishment is especially noteworthy considering Villanova’s success in competition during the past year. While holding down the top GPA among all varsity sports programs, the Wildcats posted their lowest team stroke average since the 2006 season and carded the best 54-hole team score in program history (279) at the OBX/ODU Intercollegiate during the Fall season.

In a previous announcement by the GCAA last week the trio of Graduate students Matthew Copelandsenior Noah Peck and sophomore Peter Weaver named Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholars for combining a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher with a season stroke average of 76.0 or lower while playing in at least 50 percent of their team’s competitive rounds.

Villanova had all 10 members of its 2021-22 roster named to the BIG EAST All-Academic Team last week. The honorees, in addition to Copeland, Peck and Weaver, included junior Luke Alexanderfreshman Vimal Alokamsenior Matt Davissenior Danny Doughertysophomore Jonathan Elkinsjunior Matt Minerva and senior Jack O’Hara.