NORMAN, Okla. – Junior Kason Cook and senior Ole Hatlelid of the SWOSU Men's Golf team are among 540 student-athletes from the Division I, II, NAIA and NJCAA who have been announced as Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholars. The teams were announced on Wednesday afternoon by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA).
   
It was a record setting year for the award as 540 student-athletes earned the title of All-America Scholar, the most since the awards inception in 1982. Out of the 540 honorees, 266 players were Division I selections, 112 in Division II, 23 NAIA recipients, and 18 NJCAA award winners. 2019 marks the first year in which NJCAA players are eligible for the award.
 
To be eligible for Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar status an individual must be a junior or senior academically in Division I, II, III, and NAIA, or receiving their Associate's Degree and in there last year of athletic eligibility in the NJCAA. In addition, they participate in 50-percent of his team's competitive rounds, have a stroke-average under 76.0 in Division I, 78.0 in Division II, 78.0 in NAIA and 79.0 in Division III, 77.0 in NJCAA, and maintain a minimum cumulative career grade-point average of 3.2. A recipient must also be of high moral character and be in good standing at his college or university.
 
"I'm extremely proud of Kason and Ole for earning the All-American Scholar award," SWOSU Head Coach Brad Fleetwood said. "This is the highest academic award that our sport offers and it's a testament to their dedication both on the golf course and in the classroom. This honor is a true definition of what it means to be a student-athlete."
 
Cook, a junior from Hydro, and Hatlelid, a senior from Delta, British Columbia, are the fourth and fifth players to reach All-America scholar status at SWOSU under the direction of Coach Fleetwood. Previous recipients include Marques Gomez (2016, 2017), Stefan Idstam (2016, 2017) and Wouter MyBurgh (2012, 2013).