Gallman Named A-Sun Golfer of the Week
10/5/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Oct. 5, 2007
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - USC Upstate men's golfer and Gaffney native Josh Gallman was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Golfer of the Month, released the league Friday. Gallman becomes the first USC Upstate individual to earn A-Sun conference weekly/monthly honors in any sport.
"It's a great honor to be the first Spartan to earn an award from the A-Sun," said Gallman. "I have worked hard all summer-long on my game. There's a quote `perfect practice makes perfect play' and the practice has paid off for me. I'm hitting the ball well and playing better golf. It's truly a great honor."
"It's really exciting," said Upstate head coach Todd Lawton, now in his fourth year at Upstate and in his third year of competition with the Spartans. "There is not a more deserving player to receive the award. Josh is a leader in almost every way and I know he will continue to work hard to be better every time he plays."
Gallman had a strong start to the season with Upstate playing in two tournaments in September. Gallman finished with a 1-under-par total in the 54-hole Rutgers Invitational to finish second to teammate Michael Lawrence for the individual championship. He, Lawrence and the rest of the Spartans claimed the team championship in their first tournament playing as a member of NCAA Division I. The next week, Gallman led Upstate to a fifth-place showing at the Sea Trail Intercollegiate. Gallman was nearly unstoppable on the course at Sea Trail, finishing with a 10-under par score over 54 holes to win the individual championship by one stroke. He birdied his next to last hole to win the title.
Gallman is averaging a 69.7 score per round on the year and has a combined head-to-head record of 189-1. He was 91-1 in a field of 93 players, finishing second to only Lawrence at the Rutgers Invitational. At the Sea Trail Intercollegiate, he was 99-0 playing in a field of 100 players.
Gallman's honor is the latest in a month of accomplishments and Upstate firsts established by the men's golf program. Competing on the NCAA Division I level for the first time ever, Upstate won the team championship at the Rutgers Invitational to open the 2007-08 season. Lawrence won the individual title at Rutgers and, a week later, Gallman claimed the individual championship at the Sea Trail Intercollegiate.
The success this fall comes on the heels of Upstate's strong finish at the 2007 NCAA Division II National Championships. The Spartans turned in a total team effort, receiving contributions from all five players throughout the tournament, to finish second just one stroke behind national champion Barry. Baxter Culler earned All-America honors, was the individual championship at the Peach Belt Conference Tournament and Gallman was named an honorable mention All-American.
