NORMAN, Okla. -- Barry University junior men's golfer Jorge Garcia was selected as a semifinalist for the NCAA Division II Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award.

The announcement was made public Thursday by the Golf Coaches Association of America. Garcia, a junior transfer from the University of Florida, is one of 30 players named a semifinalist for the honor, which is sponsored by Barbasol. Five finalists will be announced May 17, with the award recipient formally presented with the honor May 31 by the Golden Bear himself during the final round of the PGA's Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.

In addition to receiving the National Player of the Year Award, the five recipients will compete in the Barbasol Shootout June 2 for an exemption into the PGA TOUR's Barbasol Championship to be held July 16-22, at the Champions at Keene Trace in Lexington, Ky. The Barbasol Shootout will be held at the storied Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio -- the same club where Nicklaus first learned the game of golf as a young boy.

"This is a great honor for Jorge," Barry head coach Jimmy Stobs said. "He's on the cusp of doing some great things for Barry University golf, and this honor is a nice representation of how high his ceiling can become."

Garcia, who left Gainesville in December to play for the No. 4-ranked Buccaneers, leads Barry with a 70.11 stroke average, which is 1.22 under par. He has four Top 5 finishes in six events this spring, including a tie for second in his first event as a Buccaneer. Garcia has nine rounds in the 60s, including two in each of the last three tournaments. He carded a pair of 69s in the Sunshine State Conference Championship last week, and fired a season-low 65 in his first round as a Buccaneer. His 71 birdies are the most this spring.

Garcia is one of nne SSC golfers named a Nicklaus Award semifinalist.

"He's had a great spring for us, and now we're searching for him to take his game to the next level," Stobs said. "That'll come when he wins his first tournament."

Garcia and the Bucs will compete in the South/Southeast Regional Monday-Wednesday in Conover, N.C. 
 

Division II Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award presented by Barbasol Semifinalists

Chandler Blanchet, West Florida

Alberto Castagnara, Saint Leo

Chris Crisologo, Simon Fraser

John Coultas, Florida Southern

Tomas Gana, Lynn

Jorge Garcia, Barry

Emilio Gonzales, St. Mary's (TX)

Juan Jose Guerra, Nova Southeastern

Johnson Holliday, USC Aiken

Jacob Huizinga, West Florida

Zach James, Southeastern Oklahoma State

Brett Krekorian, Limestone

Carlos Leandro, Newberry

Vincent Norman, Georgia Southwestern

Max O'Hagen, Florida Tech

Axel Ostensson, USC Aiken

Colin Prater, CU-Colorado Springs

Conor Richards, Lander

Alex Scott, Grand Valley State

Spencer Skiff, Newberry

Nick Stafford, Belmont Abbey

Elis Svard, CSUMB

Manuel Torres, Lynn

Gideon Van Der Vyver, Columbus State

John VanDerLaan, Florida Southern

Yente Van Doren, Lindenwood

Henry Westmoreland, West Florida

Will Woodard, Limestone

Han Xue, Florida Tech

Zach Zediker, Delta State