May 1, 2007

TEXARKANA, Ark. - Marshall freshman Christian Brand (Charleston, W.Va.) was named the C-USA Freshman of the Year in an announcement made by the conference office Tuesday. Brand finished the regular season with the lowest stroke average of any freshman in the league at 74.25, and finished the C-USA Championships in a tie for 12th. Entering the final round, Brand was in a tie for fourth place at the league tournament in Texarkana, Ark.

Brand is the first Marshall golfer to be recognized by Conference USA in a post season awards list since Marshall joined the league last season. Brand's stroke average is also the lowest for any Herd freshman in the history of the program.

Brand was joined on the All-Freshman Team by Tripp Brizendine of East Carolina, Scott Barton from SMU, UAB's Blake West and Nuno Henriques of UCF.

Other specialty award winners include SMU senior Colt Knost , who capped off his final season with the Mustangs as the 2007 C-USA Golfer of the Year. Tulsa's Bill Brogden was named the Coach of the Year, and UAB sophomore Brad Smith was voted the Newcomer of the Year by the league's 11 head coaches.

2007 C-USA MEN'S GOLF AWARDS

Golfer of the Year
Colt Knost, SMU

Freshman of the Year
Christian Brand, Marshall

Newcomer of the Year
Brad Smith, UAB

Coach of the Year
Bill Brogden, Tulsa

All-Conference First Team
Mitch Cohlmia, Tulsa
Jordan Irwin, Houston
Colt Knost, SMU
Brett Myers, Tulsa
Garrett Osborn, UAB

All-Conference Second Team
Ryan Henry, Tulsa
Chad Keohane, UTEP
Sam Korbe, Tulsa
Zach Sucher, UAB
Andre Thorsen, East Carolina

All-Freshman Team
Scott Barton, SMU
Christian Brand, Marshall
Tripp Brizendine, East Carolina
Nuno Henriques, UCF
Blake West, UAB