Story last updated at 1:48 p.m. Wednesday, August 28, 2002

Big awards
Three St. Gregory's University golfers recently have received local, state and national awards for outstanding athletic and academic performances.

Jon Hart, the Class 5A champion from Woodward High School, recently was named the Jim Thorpe Award winner as outstanding male high school golfer in the state. Throughout Oklahoma, only one player from each sport can win the award in any given year. Hart was named as the award winner while participating in the All-State Games in Tulsa in July.

The Jim Thorpe Award is presented by the Oklahoma Coaches Association and is awarded on the basis of athletic ability, performance in competition, character and scholarship. Hart is an incoming freshman at SGU and has signed a scholarship for the 2002-03 season. Hart moved with his family to Miami Okla., in June.

Dustin Wood, an incoming SGU freshman from Midwest City, won the Trosper Park club championship in July by shooting rounds of 69-68 (137). In a runner-up finish, another SGU golfer, Chad Lawrence, senior from Choctaw, shot 70-70 (140), to finish second. In late July, Wood entered the National Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) individual stroke-play championships in Memphis and finished third in the nation, shooting rounds of 72-73-73 (318). Wood graduated from Midwest City High School in May.

Eric Collins, an SGU senior from Prague, recently was named NAIA Academic All-American for excellence in the classroom. A three-year varsity player, he epitomizes the student-athlete profile, said SGU coach Jim Haig. Collins is majoring in management information science and plans to graduate in 2003.

Academic All-Americans must be a junior or senior academically, have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5, have at least two years of varsity competition and be of high moral character and in good standing at the nominating institution.