Ben Hogan Award goes to Clemson's Kyle Stanley

Clemson junior Kyle Stanley is headed to Toledo, Ohio, site of next week's NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships at Inverness Club, where he'll be playing his final event as an amateur.

Prior to his journey to the Buckeye State, Stanley made a brief stop at Colonial Golf Club in Dallas, where he was presented with the 2009 Ben Hogan Award, an honor annually given to the nation's top collegiate golfer.

"I'd like to think it was my resume and my consistent play," Stanley told the Forth-Worth Star Telegram. "It's an accumulation of a lot of hard work. For me to win this award is very special."

Stanley took the top spot in a vote by members of the Hogan Committee over Indiana's Jorge Campillo, and 2008 winner and Stanley's Walker Cup teammate in 2007, Oklahoma State's Rickie Fowler.

The first time the award was handed out at Colonial, 2002, was also the last time a Clemson Tiger was the recipient. That year current PGA Tour player D.J. Trahan was the winner.

Trahan ranks first in school history in career stroke average (71.49) and Stanley is second (71.70).

"I want to thank coach (Larry) Penley and coach Jordan Byrd for giving me the opportunity to play for Clemson University," Stanley said. "I feel fortunate to represent Clemson the last three years and I look forward to playing for the Tigers one more time at NCAAs next week."

In the latest World Amateur Rankings by Golfweek, Stanley is ranked third in the U.S. and eighth in the world.

In nine tournaments for the Tigers this season, Stanley recorded seven top 10 finishes, including a victory at the Carpet Classic in Dalton, Ga., in September.

This past July, Stanley won the Southern Amateur in Orlando, Fla., and captured the Jones Cup in Sea Island, Ga., in February.

Last summer he also participated in the U.S. Amateur and competed in the U.S. Men's Open Championship at Torrey Pines. In 2007, Stanley represented the victorious U.S. side in the Walker Cup at Royal County Down in Ireland.