Oklahoma Christian’s Norby, Brictson earn All-America honors
NORMAN, Okla. (April 21, 2020) – Oklahoma Christian standouts Trevor Norby and Andres Brictson each made the Golf Coaches Association of America’s NCAA Division II All-America list, which was released Tuesday.
Norby, a senior from Carlsbad, Calif., became OC’s first All-America first-team selection in men’s golf in the program’s Division II era, which began with the 2012-13 season. He also is the Eagles’ second repeat Division II All-American, as he was a third-team pick after the 2018-19 season.
Brictson, a junior from Merida, Mexico, received honorable mention on the GCAA teams, becoming only the third OC golfer at the Division II level to make the All-America list. He and Norby made program history, as the Eagles had never before had two All-Americans at the Division II level in the same season.
Like all NCAA spring-sports athletes, Brictson and Norby had their seasons end prematurely in March due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The GCAA announced on March 13 it would choose All-Region and All-America teams for the 2019-20 season, based on the results of all competitions played in the fall and spring until the point the season was ended.
“It is extremely satisfying to see Andres and Trevor get recognized as All-Americans for their performance on the golf course in 2019-20,” OC coach David Lynn said. “Both of those guys led us in every way possible both on and off the course.”
Norby finished in the top three in five of OC’s seven tournaments this season, winning twice – in the Jerry Hrnciar Invitational at The Territory Golf Club in Duncan and the St. Mary’s Invitational at The Dominion Country Club in San Antonio, raising his career total to four wins. He posted an average score of 71.56 over 18 rounds, 12 of which were even par or better.
Norby ended this season as the region’s top-ranked golfer by Golfstat.com and at No. 11 in Division II. He plans to return for the 2020-21 season as a fifth-year senior after the NCAA granted all Division II spring-sports athletes an extra season of eligibility. He has a shot at matching former OC star Sam Johnston, who is OC golf’s only three-time Division II All-American, having made the second-team list in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16.
“Trevor being recognized as our first NCAA Division II first-team All-American is a really special accomplishment,” Lynn said. “His season with five top-three finishes in seven events, although abbreviated, is extremely special. He already has four individual victories and has moved ahead of some extremely accomplished players on the career list here at OC.”
Brictson, who qualified for last year’s U.S. Amateur Championship, finished the shortened season ranked 11th in the region and 45th in Division II by Golfstat.com.
Over 19 rounds during the 2019-20 campaign, Brictson posted an average score of 72.68 and had four top-10 finishes, including a win in the Ryan Palmer Foundation Invitational at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas. It was his third collegiate win.
“Andres started the year with a victory in Amarillo and posted six consecutive top-18 finishes,” Lynn said. “That’s extremely impressive, given the schedule we played.”
OC was ranked No. 11 in the final Bushnell Golfweek Division II coaches’ poll. In their six tournaments against Division II competition, the Eagles won three times, finished second twice and third once.
OC posted an 80-4-1 mark in Division II play and didn’t have a losing record against any Division II team, splitting with No. 6 Arkansas Tech, No. 21 Colorado State-Pueblo and California-San Diego while going 3-1 head-to-head against St. Mary’s.
Lynn said he is excited about the possibilities for the Eagles next season, as he will return all of his starters, led by his All-America duo.
“Both of these guys improved so much in the past 12 months,” Lynn said. “I can’t wait to have both of the guys back on the course soon, competing and vying for championships.”