Culler Earns All-America Honors
7/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
June 5, 2007
Spartanburg, S.C. - USC Upstate sophomore standout men's golfer Baxter Culler capped a tremendous 2006-07 season by earning Second Team All-America honors by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
Culler, from Hartsville, S.C. and who grew up in Myrtle Beach, becomes Upstate's first All-America selection in men's golf. In addition, freshman Josh Gallman earned Honorable Mention All-America honors.
Culler had a magical season in 2006-07. He opened the season with a 7-under-par effort to win the Kiawah Island Invitational. He led the Spartans to the team title a week later at the Johnny Palmer Memorial. After a solid fall season when he claimed four top 10 finishes in five tournaments, Culler made a bigger mark in the spring. He claimed two top 10 finishes before winning the individual championship at the Peach Belt Conference Tournament. He finished fourth in the NCAA Regionals and led the Spartans to their first ever trip to the NCAA Nationals. In the nationals, Culler finished in a tie for 15th and teamed with Gallman to lead a Spartan charge on the final day of the four-day tournament. Culler and the Spartans fired a team total of 5-over-par and finished second by one stroke to national champion Barry.
Culler led the Peach Belt Conference in stroke average throughout the season before surrendering the lead after the NCAA Nationals. He finished the season with a 73.0 stroke average, one-tenth of a shot behind Columbus State's Andrew Georgiou at 72.9. Culler earned All-Conference honors and won two individual titles. He finished the year with eight top 10 finishes in 13 events, including six top five efforts.
Gallman had a strong freshman season in 2006-07. He finished the year with six top 10 finishes in 13 tournaments. After recording one top 10 finish in the fall, the Gaffney, S.C., native turned in five top 10 finishes in the spring, including a strong showing in the NCAA Nationals. At the nationals, Gallman carded the tournament's low round with a 67 on the final day of the tournament to help lead the Spartans to a second-place finish. He finished the season with a 74.6 stroke average.
The GCAA names three All-America teams as well as honorable mention selections. Culler is one of five golfers from the Peach Belt Conference to earn All-America honors. Georgiou and Cougar teammate Christian Ries were First Team All-America picks, while Lander's Jake Amos joined Culler on the second team list. Armstrong Atlantic State's Chris Wolfe earned Third Team All-America honors. Gallman was joined on the honorable mention list by USC Aiken's Roberto Diaz, Georgia College & State University's Niclas Johansson, and Clayton State's Will Wilcox.
