OCU’s Van Aswegen selected to NAIA Hall of Fame
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Oklahoma City University’s Tyrone Van Aswegen, the 2002 NAIA men’s golf individual champion, has been chosen for induction into the NAIA Hall of Fame.
Van Aswegen became a three-time all-American and led the Stars to their first four national championships from 2000-04. He currently competes on the PGA Tour.
At OCU, Van Aswegen recorded a 72.88 career stroke average and seven victories as a Star. As a senior, Van Aswegen took five of his wins and paced the NAIA with a 70.73 stroke average. Along with the individual national title, Van Aswegen earned NAIA player of the year as a sophomore. He graduated with a degree in business administration from OCU. He became the first former Star to get a PGA Tour card.
"Tyrone is one of the top players to ever play NAIA golf," said Oklahoma City coach Kyle Blaser, who entered the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2012-13. "The wonderful thing about Tyrone is he’s a good enough player to play on the PGA, but he’s even a better person and father. Tyrone has gone on and represented OCU and the NAIA as well as any athlete could possibly do."
This season, Van Aswegen has compiled 71.67 shots per round and earned $168,234 in 20 events on the PGA Tour. In two years on the PGA Tour, Van Aswegen has accrued $623,090 in 45 tournaments played. Van Aswegen has been on the Web.com Tour since 2006 and boasts of $454,838 career earnings in 103 tournaments.
Van Aswegen has 10 top-10 finishes on the Web.com Tour. He tied for third place in the 2009 Soboba Classic at the Country Club at Soboba Springs in San Jacinto, Calif., for his best finish on the Web.com. Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Van Aswegen competed for several years on the Sunshine Tour.
"It is truly an honor to be inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame," Van Aswegen said. "Thank you all who were involved in making this decision. Thank you to Oklahoma City University for giving me the opportunity to play golf and study. A big thank you goes to coach Kyle Blaser, who recruited me when I was in South Africa. Not only was he my coach, but he became my friend. It is a relationship we continue today. It was the best decision of my life to come to America. I wouldn’t change anything."
Van Aswegen joined 10 individuals with OCU ties to become an NAIA Hall of Famer. He will be the fifth former OCU athlete to gain the highest honor the NAIA can bestow.
"I am extremely proud of his accomplishments, and this prestigious award is well deserved," Blaser said. "He continues to make me proud and is an unbelievable role model for my team as well as all student-athletes. I’m excited about his future. I know it will be bright."
OCU has captured the most NAIA men’s golf championships with nine won in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2013.
NAIA Hall of Fame Inductees
Oklahoma City University
Name, Sport, Category, Induction year
Kyle Blaser, men’s golf, coach, 2012-13
Denney Crabaugh, baseball, coach, 2006-07
Brian Harvey, men’s and women’s soccer, coach, 2009-10
Ted Ledbetter, baseball, athlete, 2012-13
Keith Lytle, baseball, meritorious service, 2013-14
Jeff Maack, baseball, athlete, 2010-11
Phil McSpadden, softball, coach, 2007-08
Freddy Sanchez, baseball, meritorious service, 2011-12
Chris Schroder, baseball, athlete, 2013-14
Tyrone Van Aswegen, men’s golf, athlete, 2015-16