Official Big West release

IRVINE, Calif. - Luke Vivolo became UC Davis' first Big West Men's Golfer of the Year, Mike Brockington was named to the All-Big West first team and and Matt Seramin was selected to the second team in postseason awards announced by the conference on Wednesday.

Vivolo, a junior from Carmel, earned recognition from the Big West for the first time in his career and did so with a tremendous season which saw him post a conference-leading 71.3 stroke average. He's had four top-10 finishes in 12 events, won the El Macero Classic by an impressive eight shots and only finished outside the top 30 once.

"We are very proud of Luke for making UC Davis men's golf history," said head coach Cy Williams. "He is supremely talented, has an amazing work work ethic and is very focused on what he wants to become. It's great to see this award validate that he's on the right path."

Vivolo has been particularly strong over the Aggies' last four tournaments. In those 12 rounds, he's posted five scores in the 60s -- including a 6-under 66 at the El Macero Classic -- has been under par in six rounds and has been a collective 2 under overall.

Vivolo tied for eighth at the Amer Ari Invitational in Hawaii in February with an 11-under score, was 4 under at the Wyoming Cowboy Classic and roared through the El Macero Classic with a 10-under total. He was 2 under while tying for ninth at the Alister MacKenzie Invitational during the fall.

More than a third of his rounds this season have been in the 60s. Vivolo was twice named the Big West Golfer of the Month this spring and will enter the postseason ranked 69th by Golfstat. He was also named to the All-Big West first team.

Brockington, a senior from Laguna Niguel, has been one of the Aggies' best players during the first rounds of tournaments this spring. He's averaged 69.7 strokes on the first day, had a masterful 7-under 65 in the opening round of the Wyoming Cowboy Classic and was in the 60's in the first round of four of seven events.

He posted his best finish of the season at the Big West Championships last week at San Luis Obispo Country Club, placing fifth after opening with a 2-under 68. He tied for 10th at 6 under in Wyoming's tournament and tied for 11th at 1 under at the Bandon Dunes Championship in March. He's averaging 72.6 strokes.

"We're very excited for Mike being named to the first team," Williams said. "Here's a guy that missed our first tournament this spring and from there has moved into the No. 2 position in our lineup over the past five events. He's another example of great passion and work ethic coming together with his talent to show tremendous results."

Seramin, a senior from San Geronimo, received All-Big West honors for the third in his Aggie career after garnering honorable mention accolades as a sophomore and junior. He's been a regular in UC Davis' lineup throughout the season, posting a trio of top-11 finishes before capping the regular season by tying for third at the Big West Championship.

Seramin shot par in each of the final two rounds at the difficult San Luis Obispo Country Club course to place high on the leaderboard. He ended his fall season with a 1-under total at the Alister MacKenzie Invitational and then started the spring with a 3-under score at the Amer Ari Invitational. He's averaging 72.9 strokes over 35 total rounds.

"It's also very satisfying to see Matt get rewarded for his final season with his second-team honor," said Williams. "We are looking forward to these three representing UC Davis and leading us next week as we start the postseason."

UC Davis, ranked 56th by Golfstat, makes its fifth overall appearance in the NCAA Championships when it travels next week to the Bremerton Regional hosted by the University of Washington. The Aggies, runner-ups at the Big West Championship by a single stroke, received an at-large bid for the second straight year.

Other major awards handed out by the Big West on Wednesday include Freshman of the Year to Zach Smith of UC Santa Barbara, and Coach of the Year to Paul Smolinksi of UC Irvine.

Big West Men's Golf Player of the Year
Luke Vivolo, UC DAVIS, Jr.

Big West Men's Golf Freshman of the Year
Zach Smith, UC Santa Barbara

Big West Men's Golf Coach of the Year
Paul Smolinski, UC Irvine

All-Big West First Team
Mike Brockington, UC DAVIS, Sr.
Justin De Los Santos, Cal Poly, So.
Pete Fernandez, UC Irvine, Sr.
David Gazzolo, UC Riverside, Sr.
Sam Gillis, UC Riverside, So.
Luke Vivolo, UC DAVIS, Jr.

All-Big West Second Team
JJ Holen, Long Beach State, Sr.
David Kim, UC Irvine, Fr.
Jacob Schulze, UC Irvine, Jr.
Matt Seramin, UC DAVIS, Sr.
Zach Smith, UC Santa Barbara, Fr.

All-Big West Honorable Mention
Daniel Chian, Long Beach State, Jr.
Camden Price, Cal Poly, Jr.
Ryan Tetrault, Cal State Fullerton, Sr.