Razorbacks’ Overstreet lands on ‘Hogan’ watch list

FORT WORTH, Texas — Arkansas sophomore Mason Overstreet has been named to the 2018 Ben Hogan Award watch list, according to a joint announcement made on Wednesday by the Hogan Trophy Award Foundation, the Friends of Golf (FOG) and the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA).

The Ben Hogan Award is issued annually to the top men’s NCAA Division I, II or III, NAIA or NJCAA college golfer, considering all collegiate and amateur competitions during a 12-month period from June to May.

The Ben Hogan Award Selection Committee, which votes during each stage of the process, is comprised of leaders in collegiate, amateur and professional golf.

Twenty-seven collegiate golfers have been named to the initial watch list and Overstreet is one of just four underclassmen in consideration, with 23 of the 27 players comprised of juniors and seniors.

Coming off a runner-up finish at the NCAA National Championship a season ago, Overstreet has the No. 10 stroke average in the country as a sophomore at 69.2, including five top 20 finishes in six starts.

He has 12 rounds under par this season and captured his first collegiate victory at the Jerry Pate Invitational, finishing 10-under par, including back-to-back 5-under 65’s.

Overstreet also added an amateur title to his name in December, winning the Patriot All-America Invitational, one of the most prestigious amateur events in the country.

The list of 10 semifinalists, which could include individuals not on the watch list, will be unveiled on Wednesday, April 11. On Wednesday, May 2, that group will be pared down to three finalists.

The finalists will attend a black-tie dinner at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, on Monday, May 21, prior to the start of the annual PGA TOUR stop at Colonial, where the winner will be crowned.

First issued in 1990, the Ben Hogan Trophy includes seven golfers currently ranked in the top 100 in the Official World Gold Rankings — Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler, Patrick Cantlay, Kyle Stanley, Peter Uihlein, Bill Haas and Ryan Moore.

Other recipients include: Ricky Barnes, Matt Every, Chris Kirk, Hunter Mahan, Maverick McNealy, Patrick Rodgers, Nick Taylor, D.J. Trahan and Chris Williams.

Overstreet and the Razorbacks return to action on Feb. 17-18, looking to defend their title at the SunTrust Gator Invitational at Mark Bostick Golf Club.