Williamson, Idstam, Armstrong earn All-Central Region honors
Tate Williamson earned NCAA Division II PING All-Central Region Honors for the second year in a row on Tuesday by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA).
Williamson joins 11 other golfers in the Central Region with the MIAA having seven placed on the team. Others from Oklahoma include Stefan Idstam of Southwestern Oklahoma State and Eli Armstrong of Central Oklahoma.
Williamson, a recently graduated senior from Tulsa, was an All-MIAA performer, and had four top-five finishes in 11 events this last season. In 29 rounds played, Williamson fielded a 72.97 stroke average which was 55th lowest in the nation. Additionally, he was fifth nationally with six eagles on the course during the 2016-17 season.
Idstam earned an unprecedented fourth consecutive selection to the NCAA Division II PING All-Central Region team, which honors the top 12 golfers in the region.
A total of 108 players across eight regions – East, Atlantic, Southeast, South, Midwest, South Central, Central and West – earned all-region honors, which are announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA).
“I couldn’t be more proud of Stefan and all he’s accomplished, not only this year but over his four-year career here at SWOSU,” Bulldog Head Coach Brad Fleetwood said. “Being named to the PING All-Region Team four years in a row is something that has never been done here and Stefan will go down as one of the most decorated golfers in SWOSU history. It has been an honor coaching him.”
A native of Marifred, Sweden, Idstam graduates as one of the most decorated golfers in SWOSU history. He is a four-time All-Great American Conference selection, including a two-time First Team All-GAC honoree and he was named the GAC Player of the Year last month. In addition, he earned PING All-Central Region honors in each of his years at SWOSU, becoming the first player in program history to accomplish that feat, and he was named SWOSU’s Male Athlete of the Year for 2016-17.
Idstam concluded the year as the No. 2-ranked golfer in the Central Region and the No. 20-ranked golfer in NCAA Division II according to GolfStat.com. In 26 rounds of competition, Idstam had a stroke average of 72.04 (+0.27) with a low round of 65 shot in the second round of the NCAA Division II Super Regional. He had seven top-10 individual finishes in 10 events, including a runner-up finish at the NSU Classic in the fall and he tied for fourth place at the NCAA Super Regional, coming up two shots away from advancing to the NCAA Division II National Championships.
Armstrong finished his junior season at UCO with one tournament victory and five top-10 finishes. He won the Holiday Inn-Express Invitational in St. Joseph, Mo. during the fall.
The junior from Edmond, Okla. averaged a 72 this season through 12 tournaments – 33 rounds played. Armstrong’s best round was a 67 at the Lindenwood Invitational last fall.
Armstrong helped the Bronchos earn both the regular season and postseason tournament conference championships.
A total of 107 student-athletes from eight regions were honored by the GCAA.
PING All-Central Region Team
Shayne Allan, Central Missouri
Eli Armstrong, Central Oklahoma
Luke Cornett, Arkansas Tech
Cole Dillon, Central Missouri
Sefan Idstam, Southwestern Oklahoma State
Price Murphfree, Henderson State
Connor Neil, Missouri Southern
Austin Smith, Arkansas Tech
Alex Springer, Central Missouri
Tente Van Doren, Lindenwood
Alex Williamson, Harding
Tate Williamson, Northeastern State