May 18, 2007

BAY CITY, Mich. - Junior Ryan Johnson (New Boston, Mich./Huron) was named the 2007 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Men's Golf Athlete of the Year, while head coach Mike Horn earned GLIAC Coach of the Year accolades.

Johnson's season average of 72.931 is the best known and recorded average in Wayne State history, topping his previous high mark of 74.100 from two years ago. He posted 12 finishes in the top 10, including two victories and six second-place showings.

Johnson was the runner-up at the GLIAC Championship last October (72-73-70--215), finishing just two strokes shy of the WSU 54-hole record (213) and totaling nine birdies and 38 pars in the tournament. He played strong golf during the spring season also, as his second-place finish at the Great Lakes Regional at Lockhaven helped WSU win the event overall and propel the squad into the NCAA Super Regional, where Johnson tied for 20th (77-72-74--223).

Ryan Johnson

Horn, who in his sixth season at Wayne State has earned his second career GLIAC Coach of the Year award (2004), led the Warriors to their third appearance at the NCAA Super Regional in the last four years.

The team, which finished ninth at the Great Lakes Regional at Hawks Head back in September, played especially well in the spring, starting with the Regional at Perry Park where WSU came back from 15th to finish sixth. After placing fourth at Ashland and second at Findlay, the Warriors won the Regional at Lockhaven, solidifying their place at the Super Regional where they finished fifth.