HANCEVILLE – Wallace State sophomore golfer Sylas Elliott has been named a 2016 Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award semifinalist.
Finalists in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) ranks will be named Wednesday and recipients named June 2. The five finalists to receive the Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award will compete in the Barbasol Shootout for an exemption into the PGA TOUR’s Barbasol Championship, held July 14-17, at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National in Opelika.
Elliott, a Cullman High graduate, has been one of Wallace State’s top golfers over the last two seasons as the Lions have won consecutive Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC)/Region 22 titles. Elliott is less than a month removed from winning low medalist honors at the ACCC tournament for the second year in a row, and he was a two-time champion of Wallace State’s Fall Invitational each September.
Elliott, who has signed to play at South Alabama next season, was a 2nd-team NJCAA All-American as a freshman for the Lions, who placed fifth in the nation in 2015. Elliott finished 10th individually in the nation at last season’s national championship.
Wallace State’s men’s golf team makes its 21st national tournament appearance beginning Sunday at the Duran Golf Club in Melbourne, Florida.
Wallace State’s women’s golf team plays in its first national tournament beginning Monday, May 16 at Dayton Beach, Florida.
Wallace State baseball set for postseason
Wallace State’s baseball team wrapped up the regular season over the weekend, salvaging one game in its four-game set against Shelton State.
The Lions (32-23) split a doubleheader at home against the Bucs on Saturday, winning the opener, 12-8. Shelton State swept a pair in Tuscaloosa last Thursday.
Wallace State, which finished fourth in the ACCC North Division, opens ACCC tournament play Friday at 12:30 p.m. against Faulkner State at Ozark’s Eagle Stadium.
Wallace State was the conference tournament runner-up last season, reeling off five consecutive victories in the elimination bracket to finish second for the second time in four seasons.
Wallace State coach Randy Putman has led the program to the postseason in 25 of 27 years at the college. He currently has 971 career victories with the Lions.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit http://athletics.wallacestate.edu/.
