June 8, 2004

Richmond, Va. (June 7, 2004) - The Colonial Athletic Association today announced its major award winners in men's golf as well as the 10 players who comprised the All-CAA First & Second Teams and Mason's senior Craig Mason (Lorton, Va./Hayfield) earned All-CAA First Team for the second time in his four-year career. He finished third in the conference with a 73.06 stroke average. A model of consistency, Mason posted ten Top 20 finishes in 11 events and made a CAA all-conference team for the fourth consecutive season (First Team - 2004 & 2002; Second Team - 2001 & 2003).

Mason has been the Patriots top golfer for the past four seasons with a career average of 73.1 strokes per round. A Mason record holder for lowest season and career averages and also holds record for lowest round in 18-, 36- and 54-hole tournaments. He finished his career with 10 top-five finishes and placed in the top-20 34 times in 41 total tournaments.

James Madison University senior Jay Woodson (Powhatan, Va./ Powhatan) was named CAA Player of the Year. Woodson led the conference in overall stroke average (72.77) and lost in a playoff for individual honors at the 2004 CAA Golf Championship. A First Team All-CAA performer in 2002 and a Second Team selection in 2003, Woodson led the conference with a fall scoring average of 71.67 and was second with a spring average of 73.47.

Towson University junior Billy Wingerd (Baltimore, Md./Overlea), who won the 2004 CAA championship and topped the CAA in spring scoring average (73.11), was named First Team All-CAA for the second consecutive season. Wingerd (72.87) and Woodson were the only CAA players with season stroke averages under 73. Joining Wingerd on the All-CAA First Team was freshman teammate Alex Brueggemann (Bel Air, Md./ John Carroll). The only conference performer with multiple tournament titles in 2004, Brueggemann was also voted CAA Rookie of the Year after posting wins at the St. John's tournament in the fall and the Tiger Golf Classic in the spring.

UNC Wilmington senior Derek Brown (Walnut Cove, N.C./South Stokes) was also named to the First Team after helping guide the Seahawks to their first CAA tournament crown. Brown garners First Team honors for the third time in four seasons (2001, 2003 & 2004). He was also a Second Team All-CAA pick in 2002.

Coach of the Year honors went to Towson's Brian Yaniger who directed the Tigers to an at-large selection to the NCAA Championship. The Tigers, who were third at the CAA Championship at Nansemond River Golf Club, finished 25th at the East Regional in just their second post-season appearance. One of the top teams in District 2, Towson was the second highest rated CAA squad behind UNCW in both the Sagarin (#131) and Golfstat (#135) ratings.

2004 CAA Golf Award Winners

CAA Player of the Year
Jay Woodson, JMU
(SR, Powhatan, Va./Powhatan)

CAA Rookie of the Year
Alex Brueggemann, TOWSON
(FR, Bel Air, Md./John Carroll)

CAA Coach of the Year
Brian Yaniger, TOWSON

First Team All-CAA Fall--Spring--Total--Wins--(2-5)--(6-10)--(11-20)--21+
% ^ Jay Woodson, JMU 71.67--73.47--72.77--0--3--2--4--3
(SR, Powhatan, Va./Powhatan)

# Billy Wingerd, TOWSON 72.53--73.11--72.87--1--3--1--3--4
(JR, Baltimore, Md./Overlea)

# & * Derek Brown, UNCW 73.73--73.71--73.72--0--3--1--2--5
(SR, Walnut Cove, N.C./South Stokes)

% ^ @ Craig Mason, GMU 72.50--73.62--73.06--0--2--2--6--1
(SR, Lorton, Va./Hayfield)

Alex Brueggemann, TOWSON 72.89--75.16--74.41--2--1--0--1--7
(FR, Bel Air, Md./John Carroll)


Second Team All-CAA Fall--Spring--Total Wins--(2-5)-(6-10)--(11-20)-- 21+
Jeff Castle, TOWSON 74.20--74.39-- 74.32--0--2--2--0--7
(FR, Ellicott City, Md./Mt. Hebron)

Manuel Relancio, VCU 74.21--73.83--74.00--0--3--1--1--6
(SO, Corrientes, Argentina)

#Tony DiBetetto, UNCW 74.91--74.14--74.41--0--1--1--4--5
(Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena)

% Gary Barton, W&M 72.63--75.80--74.70--0--3--1--2--5
(Staten Island, N.Y./Susan E. Wagner)

% Brian Joyce, UNCW 74.55--74.00--74.30--0--0--2--2--3
(Wilson, N.C./Greenfield School)

# - 2003 First Team All-CAA