Florida Tech Trio Earns All-America Scholar Status For Men’s Golf
By Florida Tech // July 24, 2015
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Living up to the billing of “student-athlete,” three Florida Tech men’s golfers – Ray Badenhorst, Ryan Carter and Brandon Shelley – have been named Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-American Scholars by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
The Panthers’ three representatives are the most of any school in the Sunshine State Conference, edging out Lynn and Rollins’ two selections apiece.
In all, a total of 206 players in Division I, 91 in Division II and 17 in NAIA earned the honor.
Additionally, 34 honorees were added to the previously released Division III Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholars.
To be eligible for Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar status an individual must be a junior or senior academically, compete in at least three full years at the collegiate level, 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, 77.0 in NAIA and 79.0 in Division III, and maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.2. A recipi¬ent must also be of high moral character and be in good standing at his college or university.
Asserting himself as one of the very best in NCAA Division II throughout the season, Badenhorst is a repeat honoree after also being recognized in 2014.
The academic accolade will be added to Badenhorst’s collection that already features both all-south region and third team all-American recognitions.
The senior improved each year at Florida Tech, ultimately rounding out the 2015 regular season with the nation’s No. 7 scoring average at 71.83.
Badenhorst secured five top-10 finishes in 11 tournaments, with four of those coming in the last six he appeared in.
In addition, he completed 62.5 percent of his rounds at, or below par.
Badenhorst’s tie for second at the Southeastern Collegiate in March allowed him to capture Sunshine State Conference Player of the Week for the second time under head coach Chris Saltmarsh.
His 11 total birdies paced the deep field of 90 competitors.
Another player to be ranked among the top-50 in the nation on Florida Tech’s roster, Carter netted five top-15 finishes this season, including fourth overall at the McDonough Cup in October.
An integral piece of the 19th-ranked Panthers, his collective one-under 215 at the Bearcat Golf Classic also solidified him SSC Player of the Week honors on March 30.
Furthermore, Carter improved his scoring average from his junior year by two full strokes (73.13), and was even awarded GCAA/PING All-South Region and Capital One Academic All-District.
During his first season in Crimson and Gray after transferring from Faulkner State Community College, Shelley proved to be a solid contributor in the Florida Tech lineup.
In eight tournaments, the Pensacola, Florida native recorded an average score of 75.22 strokes, carding a season-best four-under 68 in the opening round of the Matlock Collegiate Classic in February.
Overall, he posted four total rounds under par with two top-10 regional finishes at the Panther Invitational and Bearcat Golf Classic. Shelley will be key next season to ensure the Panthers don’t experience a drop off with the losses of both Badenhorst and Carter.
Florida Tech’s men’s golf team fell just short of clinching a berth in the National Championship, finishing in 12th place at the NCAA Division II South/Southeast Regional in early May.
