LAURINBURG, N.C. … Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation announced today that four outstanding collegiate golf coaches earned the 2007 Eaton|Golf Pride Coach of the Year Award, presented by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) during the 2008 PGA Show.
Conrad Ray of Stanford, Jimmy Stobs of Barry University, Bob Alpers of Saint John’s (Minn.) and Kyle Blaser of Oklahoma City University were each presented with the prestigious Eaton Golf Pride Coach Of The Year Award for their respective divisions during the GCAA Hall of Fame awards reception dinner held at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort on January 14.
Stanford Skipper honored as coach of the year for Division I
Conrad Ray of Stanford received the Eaton Golf Pride Dave Williams Award as national coach of the year following their clear victory at the Division I national championships.
Ray led Stanford to a 12-stroke victory at the NCAA Championships, its sixth victory of the season. In addition to its win at nationals, the Cardinal won The Gopher Invitational, The Prestige at PGA West, the CordeValle Collegiate, the USC Collegiate Invitational and tied for first at the U.S. Intercollegiate and the UH Hilo Intercollegiate. Stanford posted five other finishes in the top five and its worst finish of the season was seventh.
Stobs earns Division II coach of the year award for Barry
Jimmy Stobs of Barry University was named the Division II Eaton Golf Pride National Coach of the Year following the Division II national championships. Stobs led Barry to the Division II title by a one-stroke victory. It was the Bucs first win of the season. Stobs led Barry to runner-up finishes five times in 2007 and three top four showings. The Bucs were a mainstay in the top five of the Golf World/Nike Golf Coaches Poll.
"It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by your peers," said Stobs. "All the credit goes to our players. Without them there’s no coach of the year award."
Alpers takes home Division III coach of the year award for Saint John’s
Bob Alpers of Saint John’s (Minn.) was named the Eaton Golf Pride National Coach of the Year. Alpers led Saint John’s to the Division III national championship, the Johnnies fourth tournament victory of the season. The squad also won three dual matches. Additionally, St. John’s was runner-up four times and finished only one event out of the top two. Four Johnnies earned All-America honors, including two golfers on the first team.
"It truly is an honor," said Alpers. "The credit really should go to the players. They have done a great job all season and played really well at nationals."
Alpers was also the Central Region’s coach of the year while Salem State’s Steve Campbell represented the Northeast, Bob Simms of St. John Fisher for the Mid-Atlantic, Methodist’s Steve Conley for the South, Ohio Wesleyan’s Jon Whithaus in the Great Lakes and Rex Huigens of La Verne in the West.
Blaser wins NAIA coach of the year award for Oklahoma City University
Kyle Blaser of Oklahoma City University was named the Eaton Golf Pride NAIA National Coach of the Year by the GCAA. Blaser led the Stars to the NAIA National Championship for the sixth time in seven years. The squad also won four other tournaments this season. Additionally, Oklahoma City was runner-up three times and finished out of the top four only once. Three Stars were also named First-Team All-Americans.
Eaton’s Golf Grip Division is the world’s largest manufacturer of golf grips, with manufacturing, sales and distribution facilities on five continents. The division’s Golf Pride brand is recognized globally as the number one choice in grips among tour and recreational players, competitive amateur golfers, club manufacturers and club repairmen. For more information, visit www.golfpride.com.
Eaton Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturer with 2007 sales of $13.0 billion. Eaton is a global leader in electrical systems and components for power quality, distribution and control; fluid power systems and services for industrial, mobile and aircraft equipment; intelligent truck drivetrain systems for safety and fuel economy; and automotive engine air management systems, powertrain solutions and specialty controls for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has 64,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 140 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com.
For more information, contact: Dan Koehler at danielfkoehler@eaton.com.
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Dan Koehler (910) 277-3749
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