May 24, 2016
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Kevin Velo, who had the lowest stroke average for the Spartans this season, was named the Ken Venturi Most Valuable Player for San Jose State University men's golf at the team's annual post-season awards dinner on May 22.
Velo, a freshman from Danville, Calif., averaged 73.63 strokes per round and was the low Spartan scorer in three of the ten tournaments.
"It's pretty cool the freshman gets the MVP as voted on by his teammates. I believe that's a tremendous honor and it bodes well for his future," said Spartans men's golf head coach, John Kennaday.
The Ken Venturi MVP Award is named after San José State Sports Hall of Famer Ken Venturi, who played for the Spartans from 1951 through 1953, before a successful amateur career, winning the 1964 U.S. Open as a professional and 35 years as CBS-TV's lead golf commentator.
Nathaniel Jetter, who redshirted this year as a freshman, received the Most Improved Player Award.
"Nate came a long way this way this year. If he keeps up this pace, which I believe he will, he'll definitely be a factor for us in the future and we look forward to having him in the starting lineup," said Kennaday.
Matthew Murray, a junior college transfer in his first year with San José State, garnered the Academic Achievement Award.
"Matt played every event for us and was a solid performer. I believe he will be even better next year as we work through a few things. Academically, he was an absolute stud for us with an extremely high GPA and to be able to do that and play is very impressive," commented Kennaday.
The Manchester, England native played in 30 rounds for the year to tie with senior Taylor Bromley for tops on the team.
The Round of the Year Award was given to Bromley who shot a three-under 69 at the Mountain West Men's Golf Championship, played at the par-72, 7194 yard Catalina Course at the Omni Tucson National Resort in Tucson, Ariz.
"Under the circumstances and situation, it was by far the most important and best round of the year without a doubt," said the Spartans men's golf head coach. "Going into the last hole three-under in the final round of his career, and having been 24-shots worse the year before at the championship, and then facing the most difficult finishing hole with a par, it was just pretty amazing."