Christo Lamprecht Named 2024 Byron Nelson Award Recipient
MCKINNEY, Texas - Christo Lamprecht of Georgia Tech was named the 2024 Byron Nelson Award recipient by the Salesmanship Club of Dallas and GCAA this afternoon at TPC Craig Ranch. Awarded annually since 2002, Lamprecht joins Anders Albertson (2015), James White (2012), Roberto Castro (2007), and Troy Matteson (2003) as golfers from Georgia Tech to earn the award.
The recipient, a graduating senior, is recognized for their achievement in the classroom, on the course, and in their community.
“It is truly an honor to be named this year’s recipient,” said Lamprecht. “To be named in the same sentence as Mr. Byron Nelson, and so many others who have won this award, is truly an honor.”
Lamprecht will graduate with Honors this weekend with a bachelor’s degree in finance and one of the highest GPAs during head coach Bruce Heppler’s 29 years at Georgia Tech.
“Mr. Nelson was an incredible player who carried himself with grace and class throughout his life,” said Heppler. “You are the sum of all your choices!’ is our team motto. This award truthfully defines what our players try to live by.”
The two-time GCAA All-America Scholar from George, South Africa, has volunteered in multiple Michael Isenhour Toy Drives with Georgia Tech Athletics, where over 2,000 toys and $8,000 donated on average assist with providing Christmas gifts for children in downtown Atlanta shelters. During the six weeks he was home in South Africa for spring break last year, Lamprecht assisted his mother with planning and preparing all spring activities, including academic, athletic, and social functions, for his high school.
“This award, which I view as the most prestigious, is one I really wanted to win because it means more than just hitting a golf ball,” continued Lamprecht. “It is so easy with the modern day of social media and everything else to just look at results, where people define you based on what your results are, but to me, the Byron Nelson Award is more defining of the person that you are and the way you carry yourself.”
Lamprecht, along with assisting the athletic department’s nutrition staff stock, prepare, and deliver snack bags for road trips across various programs as well as being the Yellow Jackets’ representative in the 2023 East Lake Cup Junior Clinic, has been the top-ranked men’s amateur golfer in the world over numerous weeks. He got to the top by becoming The Amateur champion, the low amateur at The Open, competing in The Masters, a PING first-team All-America selection, an ACC Excellence Award recipient, and a competitor in both the Arnold Palmer Cup (his second straight appearance) and World Team Amateur Championship, to name a few. On April 17, Lamprecht was named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2024 Ben Hogan Award presented by PNC Bank for the second straight year.
“Receiving the Byron Nelson Award is the highlight of my college career in terms of the awards and accolades that I have achieved,” Lamprecht said. “It is something that I will hold dear to my heart for the rest of my life.”
About the Byron Nelson Award
The purpose of the Byron Nelson Award is to select annually the outstanding Division I, II, III, or NAIA scholar-athlete of the year. The recipient, a graduating senior, is recognized for their achievement in the classroom, on the course, and in their community. Past winners include David Nyfjäll (Northwestern), William Knauth (Carnegie Mellon), McClure Meissner (SMU), John Murphy (Louisville), Ryan Lumsden (Northwestern), Matthew Perrine (Baylor), Maverick McNealy (Stanford), Stephen Behr (Clemson), Anders Albertson (Georgia Tech), Brandon Hagy (Cal), Brinson Paolini (Duke), Dylan Frittelli (Texas), Cyril Bouniol (Abilene Christian), Brendan Gielow (Wake Forest), James White (Georgia Tech), Mike Van Sickle (Marquette), Nathaniel James (Washington & Lee), Sam Korbe (Tulsa), Roberto Castro (Georgia Tech), Zack Robinson (Oklahoma State), Michael Putnam (Pepperdine), Billy Hurley (Navy), Troy Matteson (Georgia Tech), and Jason Allred (Pepperdine).