Kinsale's John Murphy nominated for Byron Nelson Award
John Murphy. Picture: Pat Cashman
Kinsale's Jon Murphy has been nominated for the prestigious Byron Nelson Award for senior college golfers in the US.
The University of Lousiville based Irish international is one of three finalists for the honour with Colin Kober of Baylor and Georgia Tech's Tyler Strafaci.
Candidates for the Nelson Award must be a graduating senior and the selection committee considers equally a nominee’s entire collegiate academic and golf career as well as 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.
“It is with great pride that we at Srixon/Cleveland Golf once again have the honour of recognising the finalists for the Byron Nelson Award,” said Rodney McDonald of Srixon/Cleveland Golf. “The three young men who are our finalists this year exemplify what Byron stood for on the golf course, in the classroom and most importantly in his community.”
John Murphy in action for the Louisville Cardinals
Murphy, who captured last year’s Mullingar Scratch Trophy, finished his Louisville career with a scoring average of 71.98 and earned a pair of individual victories during his senior season in the US.
The senior was a PING All-Region selection in 2019 and 2020, a 2020 PING Honorable Mention All-American, as well as an ACC-All Academic Team selection and a Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar.
During his time at Louisville, Murphy has served his community by volunteering at the Franciscan Kitchen of Louisville, the Open Adult Wheelchair Basketball event for the Metro Parks Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation division, as well as the local Salvation Army.
A native of Southlake, Texas, Kober has a career scoring average of 72.99 over his four years at Baylor, good for the 11th best mark in Baylor history. Kober was a 2019 Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar, the 2019 Big-12 Men’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the year and was the 2018 and 2019 NCAA Elite 90 Award winner. Kober also frequently served his community at the Waco Habitat for Humanity, as well as the local Feed My Starving Children.
A native of Davie, Fla., Strafaci posted a career scoring average of 71.60 which ranks 6th all-time in Georgia Tech history. The senior was a three-time PING All-Region selection and was a PING Honorable Mention All-American in 2020. Off the golf course, Strafaci was a 2019 Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar and a three-time All-ACC Academic Team selection.
In his community, Strafaci regularly serves with the EXCEL Program at Georgia Tech, a four-year program offered to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Strafaci also regularly mentors junior golfers during the summer months, as well as participating in the Michael Isenhour Toy Drive each fall.
