Owls named GCAA Academic National Champion

NORMAN, Okla. – The Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) announced today that the Kenyon College Owls were declared the organization’s 2023-24 NCAA Division III Academic National Champion.

Throughout the season, members of the Kenyon roster combined for a 3.726 team grade point average. That impressive number netted three team awards for the Owls. First, they claimed the GCAA’s All-Academic Team Award, for a grade point average better than a 3.0. Second, the Owls were one of just 13 NCAA Division III team’s to claim the GCAA Presidents Special Recognition, which is reserved for teams with a grade point average of 3.5 or better. Finally, among all NCAA Division III teams, the Kenyon men posted the best grade point average and claimed the GCAA’s Academic National Championship title.

In addition to the multiple team awards, Kenyon had a pair of individual honorees, as senior Garrett Thesing and junior Armand Ouellette were named GCAA Cobalt Golf All-America Scholars. The announcement marked the second straight season the Kenyon pair earned the academic accolade. They were among 208 NCAA Division III student-athletes from 81 NCAA Division III institutions to claim the honor.

To be eligible for GCAA Cobalt Golf All-America Scholar nomination, a student-athlete needed to maintain a stroke average under 79.0, possess a cumulative career grade point average of 3.2 or better and had to participate in at least 50 percent of their team’s competitive rounds. Additionally, nominees had to be in their sophomore, junior or senior season.

The 2023-24 Kenyon team not only had success in the classroom, but on the course. The Owls recorded a program-best scoring average, won the 2024 North Coast Athletic Conference Championship and went on to tie for eighth place at the NCAA Division III Championship.