NEW ORLEANS ? Byron Nelson - one of the greatest players and sportsmen in the game of golf - hasbeen named recipient of the Golf Coaches Association of America Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was created by the association to honor special individuals who have made outstanding contributions to collegiate golf and its student-athletes. Presentation of the award will be made at the GCAA Hall of Fame Awards Dinner on Wednesday, January 12 at the DoubleTree Hotel in New Orleans. Mr. Nelson will become only the second recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award and just the second non-collegiate coach inducted into the GCAA Hall of Fame.

One of the greatest players in the history of the game of golf, Mr. Nelson won 54 sanctioned tournaments, including two Masters Tournaments, two PGA Championships and a U.S. Open and finished in the money a then record 113 straight tournaments. This year also marks the 60th anniversary of what is widely considered the greatest season in professional golf when he won 11 tournaments in a row. He won a total of 18 tournaments in 1945, finished second on seven occasions and compiled a 68.33 scoring average.

Considered on of the greatest gentlemen in sports, Mr. Nelson has made countless contributions back to the game by mentoring young golfers, working as a television commentator for ABC Sports and serving as host of the EDS Byron Nelson Championship. The Nelson raises more money for charity than any other tournament on the PGA Tour and benefits underprivileged children in the Dallas area. He also lends his name to the Byron Nelson Award presented by Cleveland Golf, which is presented to a graduating men?s senior golfer. A student-athletes entire collegiate academic and golf career, as well as his character and integrity while in college are considered for the award with particular particular emphasis placed on good citizenship, as portrayed by Mr. Nelson over the course of his life and golf career.