April 2, 2008

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Sophomore Jack Newman was selected as the Big Ten Conference Men's Golfer of the Week on Wednesday, it was announced today by the conference office. Newman becomes the first Spartan to earn conference weekly honors this season and earns the award for the second time in his career, having shared the accolades with Matt Harmon on April 25, 2007.

Newman garners conference recognition after winning the Western Intercollegiate on Thursday at the Pasatiempo Golf Course in Santa Cruz, Calif. The Des Moines, Iowa native won his second career tournament with a four-over par 214 (69-67-78). He entered the final day a stroke off the lead, but would hold off the field for a two shot victory.

"Winning the tournament in California was awesome," said Newman. "It was a great learning experience. That round taught me a lot, and now I know what I need to work on for our next tournament because we get to face some local teams, and I will be able to put my game up against theirs. Coming down the back nine, I was a little nervous. Then the last three or four holes I found a way to calm myself and pull-out the win."

Newman is second on the team with a 74.10 stroke average and has two top-five finishes on the season, including this week's win. He also tied for fourth at the Fighting Irish Invitational. Newman's first career collegiate championship came at last year's Fossum Invitational.

Michigan State returns to action on Monday, April 7 for the three-day Missouri Tiger Intercollegiate in Columbia, Mo.