WSU's Cuzzort Named 2009 GLIAC Men's Golf "Athlete of the Year"

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BAY CITY, Mich. - Wayne State University senior Steve Cuzzort (Grosse Ile, Mich.) was named the 2009 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) men's golf "Athlete of the Year". University of Findlay rookie Michael Schmitmeyer (St. Mary's, Ohio) was tabbed "Freshman of the Year," while Grand Valley State University's Don Underwood earned "Coach of the Year" honors.

Cuzzort, a two-time GLIAC Men's Golf "Athlete of the Week," wrapped up the fall portion of the 2008-09 season by becoming the third GLIAC Championship medalist in WSU history and the first since Ryan Johnson in 2004 (head coach Mike Horn was the first in 1985). He carded an eight-under par 208 (67-70-71), breaking the 54-hole school record of 213 set by Joe Spatafore in 1983 and Joe Juszczyk last season. He also matched the 18-hole school record with a first-round 67, a mark he would later break at the third Midwest Regional tournament in the spring, as he shot a 66 in the first round on his way to a 36-hole school record score of 138. Cuzzort has finished in the top four in eight events, including a win at the Ashland Invitational and second-place finishes at both spring NCAA D-II regional tournaments. He has a 71.36 scoring average in 25 rounds this season and is on pace to eclipse Johnson's school record (72.931).

Schmitmeyer won the NCAA D-II Regional Tournament #3 after firing a 145 and tying a school record with a 67 (-5) in the opening round of the NCAA D-II Regional #1, where he finished eighth with a 140. During his inaugural campaign with the Oilers, Schmitmeyer also took fourth at the Bellarmine Invitational with a 151 and fourth at the Northwood Invitational with a 148, finishing in the top 20 of six tournaments on the year.

Underwood was named the GLIAC Men's Golf "Coach of the Year" after he led Grand Valley State to its third conference title in 2008-09. The title was the Lakers' second in the past three years and came after GVSU set a GLIAC 54-hole record with a score of 863 (-1) at the conference championship. This is the fourth time that Underwood has earned the accolade, with the latest coming during the 2004-05 season. The Lakers are currently competing in the NCAA Men's Golf Super Regionals, where they finished third last season.

Joining Cuzzort on the 2009 All-GLIAC men's golf first team are: Ferris State University juniors Kurt Valley (Bay City, Mich./Western) and Eric Lilleboe (Okemos, Mich./Lansing Catholic Central); Wayne State junior Joe Juszczyk (Dearborn Heights, Mich./Divine Child); Saginaw Valley State senior Kasey Hocquard (Cheboygan, Mich.); and Grand Valley State senior Tyler Hering (Muskegon, Mich.).

A complete list of the 2009 All-GLIAC men's golf teams are below: