Hurley Named Nelson Award Recipient

NORMAN, Okla. ? Billy Hurley of the U.S. Naval Academy has been the recipient of the 2004 Byron Nelson Award presented by Cleveland Golf announced the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) has in cooperation with the Four Seasons Resort and Club Las Colinas and the Salesmanship Club of Dallas. Candidates for the Nelson must be a graduating senior and the selection committee will consider equally a nominee?s entire collegiate academic career, entire collegiate 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.

A four-time All-Patriot League selection, Hurley closed out his Naval Academy career as perhaps the best golfer in the program?s history. Of the 50 collegiate meets in which he participated in during his four-year career, he produced seven wins, finished in the top-five 25 times and the top-10 31 times. He was one of the first-two players to be named to the 2004 Palmer Cup presented by Monster Team and is the first player to represent a service academy in the annual Ryder Cup-style competition. He was also on the watch list for the 2004 The Ben Hogan Award and was named the 2004 Patriot League Player of the Year after capturing the Patriot League Tournament title. Hurley was also named to the PING Mid-Atlantic All-Region team for the second-consecutive season. Additionally, Hurley received the Naval Academy Thompson Trophy Cup, presented to that midshipman, male or female, who has done the most during the year to promote athletics at the Naval Academy and has been nominated for the Naval Academy Athletic Association Sword.

"Winning the Nelson Award means a lot," said Hurley. This is award means the most of any that I?ve won to date and I?m super thrilled to learn that I?m receiving it."