Sam Horsfield, of Davenport became the first FJT Alumni to be the Division I recipient of the Golf Coaches Association of America's Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award. The University of Florida Freshman posted a 70.55 scoring average, which included three wins, eight top-five finishes, and top-25 in 12 of his 13 appearances for the Gators. Sam also was named a PING First-Team All-American, a semifinalist for the Ben Hogan Award, the Jack Nicklaus Award, and is a finalist for the Fred Haskins Award. Horsfield is currently ranked 9th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking
Sam put together a notable junior amateur career, with signature wins which included capturing the 2011 Boys' Junior Championship, the 2013 Florida Amateur Championship, and 2013 FHSAA 3A Individual High School Golf Championship. In 2014, after advancing to match play at both the U.S. Amateur Public Links and U.S. Amateur, Horsfield was chosen to represent Florida and the FSGA at the USGA State Team where Team Florida finished 2nd.
Horsfield will appear on Monday in the U.S. Open Sectional Field at Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville, looking to advance to the U.S. Open Championship for the second year in a row.
Freshman Year Stats
- Three tournament titles (Sea Best Invitational, Mason Rudolph Championship, Southern Highlands Collegiate)
- Earned 12 top-25 finishes in 13 starts
- Totaled eight top-five finishes
- Stroke average of 70.55
- Tied for fifth at the SEC Championship
- Lone freshman named a Ben Hogan Award semifinalist
- Won four SEC weekly honors in five spring tournaments
- Named a semifinalist for the Jack Nicklaus Award
- Added to the PING All-Southeast Region Team
- Shot -1 (215) to tie for 12th at the NCAA Kohler Regional Championship
- Tied for 22nd at the NCAA Championship
- Only freshman named a PING First-Team All-American
- Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award Winner
- Fred Haskins Award Finalist
