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Bouniol Winner of Byron Nelson Award presented by Cleveland Golf/Srixon

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NORMAN, Okla. – The GCAA has announced Cyril Bouniol of Abilene Christian recipient of the 2011 Byron Nelson Award presented by Cleveland Golf/Srixon, in cooperation with the Four Seasons Resort and Club Las Colinas and the Salesmanship Club of Dallas. Candidates for the Nelson Award must be a graduating senior and the selection committee considers equally a nominee’s entire collegiate academic and golf career and his character and integrity while in college. Particular consideration will be given to a nominee’s good citizenship, as portrayed by Mr. Byron Nelson over the course of his life and golf career.

“The Byron Nelson award, for me, is the most meaningful award a college golf player can receive,” said Bouniol. “Receiving this award is truly an honor. The four other finalist were great guys who deserved to win as much as I did, therefore it makes things so even more special. It rewards all the hard work from the last four years that I have spent at Abilene Christian University and also honors all the people who have helped me and believed in me through my journey that has got me here. However, what is most important is to receive an award that carries Byron Nelson’s name. This is an incredible privilege that I take very seriously and a see as a duty to represent and uphold the values, integrity, and citizenship that Lord Byron had himself. This award is not about me, it is about Byron Nelson and all of the people that God blessed me with and who have had and still have a tremendous impact in my life and faith.”

Bouniol has followed up his individual national championship campaign with another solid year for the Wildcats. Bouniol entered the NCAA South Central/Midwest Super Regional as the defending champion after winning his final three tournaments of 2010 en route to the NCAA Division II title. His winning streak began as he fired a final round and course record 64, at WinStar Golf Course winning the 2010 Lone Star Conference Championship. He shared the honor of Co-Champion with teammate Alex Carpenter, helping the Wildcats to the team championship and third team title of the spring. Rounding out his junior season, Bouniol was named first-team All-American as well as the winner of the annual Arnold Palmer Award.

Bouniol has seen his game improve in each of his four years at ACU, holding a career scoring average of 72.33 including an average score of 71.3 during his senior campaign. The Laloubere, France, native has helped ACU to two tournament wins this year as Bouniol has not finished outside the top 15 in 11 tournaments including three top 10 finishes.

Bouniol is attending Abilene Christian on the Byron and Louise Nelson Scholarship.