IRVING, Texas – Cincinnati and Houston secured the top two player honors for the season, while the Bearcats also took home Coach of the Year as part of the 2023 American Athletic Conference Men’s golf awards that were announced on Tuesday. The American Player of the Year, American Freshman of the Year and American Coach of the Year awards were voted on by the conference’s nine men’s golf head coaches.
Santiago De La Fuente became the first Houston player to be named American Player of the Year, while Ryan Ford became the first Bearcat to be named American Freshman of the Year. Cincinnati head coach Doug Martin captured the first American Coach of the Year trophy in men’s golf for the Bearcats.
A total of 16 players from all nine member institutions brought home all-conference accolades. The first 13 all-conference players were decided by a popular vote of the head coaches in The American, with an additional three players who finished among the top-seven golfers and ties at the 2023 American Men’s Golf also selected. Cincinnati and Houston led the way with three honorees, followed by UCF, South Florida and SMU each boasting two player each. Seven players were selected to the all-conference team unanimously.
De La Fuente, the 36
th ranked player in NCAA Division I men’s golf according to Golfstat, earns the American Player of the Year honors on the hells of winning the 2023 American Individual Championship at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Fla. where he shot a season-low 10-under 200. The junior posted a 70.34 average score across 11 tournaments thus far this season in advance of the NCAA Regionals with five finishes in the top three. De La Fuente captured player of the week in in The American three times, the most of any player (February 15, March 8, April 13).
Ford earns American Freshman of the Year honors following a third-place finish at the 2023 American Athletic Conference Men’s Golf Championship, shooting a 4-under 206. He shot a round average of 72 across 10 tournaments, including a season low 15-under 201 for a second-place finish at the Dorado Beach Collegiate. Ford took home conference player of the week honors on two different occasions – March 2 and April 5. It was the most among all freshman and the second most in the league.
Martin guided Cincinnati to the highest team ranking in The American, entering NCAA Regionals ranked 40
th by Golfstat. The Bearcats finished in second place at the 2023 American Men’s Golf Championship, tying a program-best finish. All four scorers for the Bearcats finished in the top 15, including Freshman of the Year Ryan Ford leading the pack in third place.
2023 American Athletic Conference Women’s Golf Awards
Player of the Year
Santiago De La Fuente, Jr., Houston
Freshman of the Year
Ryan Ford, Cincinnati
Coach of the Year
Doug Martin, Cincinnati
All-Conference Team
Luis Carrera, Sr., UCF*
Johnny Travale, Sr., UCF
Lucas Augustsson, Fr., East Carolina
Sam Jean, Sr., Cincinnati*
Ty Gingerich, Jr., Cincinnati*
Ryan Ford, Fr., Cincinnati
Santiago De La Fuente, Jr., Houston*
Wolfgang Glawe, So., Houston*
Austyn Reily, Sr., Houston*
Esteban Vazquez, Jr., Memphis
Shubham Jaglan, So., South Florida
Jake Peacock, So., South Florida
Nathan Petronzio, Jr., SMU*
William Sides, Fr., SMU
Ethan Whitney, So., Temple
Blake Lorenz, Jr., Wichita State
*denotes unanimous selection