On Monday afternoon, UC Santa Barbara junior Glen Scher found out that he was invited to compete as an individual at the NCAA Golf Regional in Tempe, Ariz., that begins on May 16. On Wednesday, Scher’s week got even better as he was named Big West Player of the Year and First Team All-Big West.
Scher was joined on the all-conference team by sophomore teammate Brett Silvernail who was given an honorable mention nod.
Scher has had an outstanding year for the Gauchos. He became the first player in more than two decades to win two tournaments in the same season as he claimed medalist honors at the Sacramento State Invitational in March and the Wyoming Cowboy Classic in April. Scher also finished second at the Winchester Classic in April. His eighth-place finish at the Big West Championships was his seventh straight top-10 finish to complete the regular season.
A two-time Big West Golfer of the Month – Scher claimed the honor in March and April – he led UCSB in stroke average at 72.65 shots per round, including 71.87 during the winter/spring season and 71.71 in his last 24 round. In the 23 rounds he shot in the winter/spring season, 13 were under par and three others were at par.
“Glen has had a great year and very much deserved to be Big West Player of the Year,” said head coach Steve Lass. “He has been consistently good, which is obvious by his two wins and seven straight top-10 finishes. I look forward to seeing what he can do at the NCAA Regional. It should be exciting.
Scher’s two tournament wins in 2013 give him three for his career. In 2011, he won the Barona Collegiate Cup. His appearance in the NCAA Regional is his second. He was also invited to compete in 2011, but pulled out because of a hand injury.
Scher is the second Gaucho to be named Big West Player of the Year joining Jeff Wood who earned the honor in 2001.
Silvernail closed the season with a rush and tied for the individual title at the Big West Championship before losing in a playoff. Still, his 1-over par 217 was the top score among UCSB players. In all, Silvernail played in nine of the team’s 10 tournament in 2012-13 and he recorded five top-15 finishes.
“Brett really finished the year strong,” Lass said. “He was outstanding at Big West and with he and Glen as our cornerstones, I am looking forward to next year.”
