SMU snags Freshman of the Year, Newcomer of the Year awards

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Mustangs Garner Numerous All-Conference USA Awards, Dechambeau Takes Freshman of the Year
Clemens Receives Newcomer of the Year, Dechambeau Also Named To C-USA First Team

April 30, 2013

IRVING, Texas (SMU) - Four SMU Mustangs received All-Conference USA honors, the league office announced on Tuesday.Bryson Dechambeau won Freshman of the Year while senior Mario Clemens took Newcomer of the Year honors.

Dechambeau was also named First Team All-C-USA, while Clemens and freshman Austin Smotherman made the Second Team. Dechambeau, Smotherman and David Lee all received All-Freshman Team recognition.

Dechambeau had five top-five and six top-10 finishes this season, including a runner-up result at the C-USA Championship (April 21-23). The freshman is currently ranked 35th in the nation according to GolfWeek and 40th in GolfStat's rankings. He posted a season-best final score of 208 (five-under par) at SMU's Royal Oaks Intercollegiate (Oct. 29-30), finishing tied for fourth, and had a personal-best round of 66 (six-under) at the Puerto Rico Classic (Feb. 18). Dechambeau had seven rounds in the 60s.

Clemens, who transferred from UCLA during the summer after the 2011-12 season, recorded four top-11 results, including a season-best fifth at the C-USA Championship (April 21-23). Clemens had his best score of the season at the Puerto Rico Classic, carding a 211 (five-under), tying him for 10th in the event. His best individual round was at the opening round of the C-USA Championship, where he posted a 68 (four-under), which tied him for the lead at the time. Clemens recorded three sub-70 rounds.

Smotherman fought injuries during a portion of the season, but managed to have four top-15 results in eight tournaments, including a season-best finish at The Duck Invitational (March 25-26), where he tied for sixth. Smotherman twice recorded season-best rounds of 68 - the second round at the season-opening Gopher Invitational (Sept. 9-10) (four-under) and the first round at the Puerto Rico Classic (Feb. 17-19) (four-under). His best final score of the season also came in Puerto Rico, where he carded 212 (four-under) over three rounds.

Lee had his best performance of the season at the Puerto Rico Classic (Feb. 17-19), finishing tied for 22nd after finishing with a score of 215 (one-under) after posting consecutive 70s (two-under) in the final two rounds. In all, Lee competed in six events, recording three under-par rounds.