Las Vegas, Nevada (September 12, 2011)–The Las Vegas Golf Region is an ultimate golf destination, but our locals make a big mark as well. Now Golfworld Magazine has announced that UNLV golfer Derek Ernst has been named a Top 50 college golfer to watch in 2011-12. The UNLV golf program has a long history of great players, several who now play the PGA Tour including Ryan Moore, Chris Riley, Chad Campell, Bill Lunde and Charley Hoffman. —By Brian Hurlburt with UNLV Sports Information.
Ernst, a senior from Clovis, Calif., is a two-time Mountain West Golfer of the Year award winner. He has also been named to the PING All-West Region team each of the last two years. In 2010, he was selected as a third team All-American. In choosing, Ernst, Golfword editors highlighted his two conference player of the year awards and his runner-up finish at this year's Publinks.
Ernst led the Rebels in 2010-11 in rounds played (41) and scoring average (71.93). He also led the squad in several top finish categories. He led in top-20 finishes (11), top-10 finishes (8) and top-five finishes (3). He also led the Rebels in rounds at par or better, with 20, and with 14 rounds under par. FOLLOW GOLFLASVEGASNOW.com on TWITTER. Click to @LVGolfInsider
Ernst was the runner-up at this summer’s U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship. In May, he tied for first at the Mountain West Championship before winning the title outright with a birdie on the third playoff hole. That broke a three-way tie. His 7-under 64 during the second round of that tournament marked the lowest round by a Rebel golfer last season.
The 2011-12 UNLV men’s golf season will get underway on Sunday, Sept. 18, at the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational in Colorado Springs, Colo. You can click to Golfworld Magazine for the complete Top 50 listing. FILE PHOTO.