July 21, 2023 —
Hobbs, New Mexico - July 18, 2023 - The University of the Southwest (USW) is proud to announce that its golf program has been recognized at the prestigious Ben Hogan Trophy Award event. The event, which was held recently, celebrates the most exceptional golfers in the world, and this year, they acknowledged the outstanding rebuilding efforts underway at USW. The recognition is a testament to the hard work and relentless dedication of USW’s student-athletes, coaches, and staff, who, despite the challenging circumstances of the past year, have continued to strive for excellence both on and off the course.
"I couldn't be more proud of our team's commitment to succeed. The recognition from such an esteemed award is a confirmation of their efforts," said Steve Appel, VP of Campus Facilities and Athletics at the University of the Southwest.
The USW Golf Program is a cornerstone of the university's athletic tradition, helping to shape student-athletes with a well-rounded foundation of leadership, teamwork, and competitiveness. These traits are echoed in the Ben Hogan Trophy's ethos, which emphasizes the importance of both academic and athletic success. The Ben Hogan Trophy, named after golf legend Ben Hogan, is one of the most prestigious in the golfing world. It not only celebrates performance on the course but also acknowledges the academic achievements and personal integrity of the recipients.
The USW golf program received charitable gifts totaling $25,000 from the Ben Hogan Award Committee and the Colonial Charity Committee during the event. University of the Southwest’s head golf coach RJ Lester commented, “The amazing generosity shown by the Ben Hogan Award Committee, the Colonial Charity Committee, and the Ryan Palmer Foundation is humbling. It is because of institutions like this that make dreams a reality. It was a true honor to accept their incredibly generous gift on behalf of the USW family. We will forever be grateful for their contributions to our school and student body during our continued healing.”
The University of the Southwest extends its deepest gratitude to the Ben Hogan Trophy Committee for recognizing its golf program. USW remains committed to fostering an environment of excellence for all its student-athletes and continually raising the bar in golf and academic achievements.
Pictured in Photos:
1). Gift Presentation: Ryan Palmer, USW Head Coach RJ Lester, Harold Muckleroy – Ben Hogan Award President
2). Trophy Award Finalists: Ludvig Aberg from Texas Tech University, Gordon Sargent from Vanderbilt, USW Head Coach RJ Lester, and Michael Thorbjornsen from Stanford.
