May 3, 2011
IRVING, Texas - Three members of the Texas A&M men's golf program earned spots on the All-Big 12 team, released Tuesday by the league office.
Seniors Nacho Elvira (Santander, Spain) and Conrad Shindler (Coppell, Texas), and junior Jordan Russell (College Station, Texas), represented the Aggies on the 10-member squad. It was the first All-Big 12 honor of both Elvira and Shindler's career, while Russell made the team for the second straight season.
A&M matched Oklahoma State for most honorees with three apiece. It marked just the third time in program history that A&M placed three on an all-conference team, joining the 1982-83 (SWC honorees Paul Oglesby, Danny Briggs and Gary Krueger) and 2006-07 (Big 12 honorees Bronson Burgoon, Martin Piller and Bobby Gates) teams.
"These three are so deserving of any and all the honors they receive this year," head coach J.T. Higgins said. "Obviously, their play has been stellar but their work ethic and dedication have been superior as well. It is nice to see hard work get recognized and rewarded but knowing Conrad, Nacho and Jordan, they are much more interested in the tournaments that lie ahead of us than anything we have done to this point. It has been fun to watch these guys excel this year and hopefully the best is yet to come."
Elvira has finished in the top 20 or better in eight of nine tournaments this season, ranking second on the squad with a 72.1 stroke average. He has finished seventh in three straight events, including the Big 12 Championship last week at Prairie Dunes Country Club.
Shindler has posted top-20 finishes in seven of 10 tournaments on the year, including a seventh-place showing at the Big 12 Championship. His stroke average of 72.5 is a career best and ranks third on the team, while his three top-five showings are second-best on the squad. Shindler went a perfect 4-0 at the Callaway Collegiate Match Play championships in March.
Russell tops the team with nine top-20 finishes and seven top-5 showings, while his 71.4 stroke average is also a team-best and would rank as the best in school history if the season ended today. He placed third at the Big 12 Championship, tying a school record for highest finish at the event. Russell becomes just the fourth Aggie in the Big 12 era to earn all-conference honors in consecutive seasons, joining Ryan Palmer (1997, 98, 99), Bobby Gates (2006, 07, 08) and Andrea Pavan (2009, 10).
The 2011 All-Big 12 Team was identified by using the top 10 highest-ranked student-athletes according to the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings following the Big 12 Championship. The Player and Newcomer of the Year are automatically selected as the highest ranked individual from the rankings as well. Coach of the Year honors were given after a vote by the league's head coaches.
Texas A&M, which has finished fifth or better in every tournament this season, is ranked sixth nationally and awaits its post season destination. Selections for the NCAA Regional round will be made on Monday, May 9.
2011 All-Big 12 Men's Golf Team
Morgan Hoffmann, Oklahoma State, Jr.
Kevin Tway, Oklahoma State, Sr.
Peter Uihlein, Oklahoma State, Jr.
Dylan Frittelli, Texas, Jr.
Bobby Hudson, Texas, Sr.
Ignacio Elvira, Texas A&M, Sr.
Jordan Russell, Texas A&M, Jr.
Conrad Shindler, Texas A&M, Sr.
Nils Floren, Texas Tech, Sr.
Matt Smith, Texas Tech, Sr.
Player of the Year
Peter Uihlein, Oklahoma State, Jr.
Newcomer of the Year
Toni Hakula, Texas, Fr.
Coach of the Year
Mike McGraw, Oklahoma State