Ben James Named ACC Freshman of the Year
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia first-year men’s golfer Ben James (Milford, Conn.) has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Freshman of the Year and a member of the 2023 All-ACC team.
James becomes the fourth Cavalier to earn ACC Freshman (Rookie) of the Year hoors. Jimmy Flippen was selected in 1992, Lewis Chitengwa in 1995 and Denny McCarthy in 2012.
Ranked No. 8 in the latest Golfstat standings, James is the top-ranked freshman in the poll. In his last outing he tied for third place in stroke play at the ACC Championships. Twice this season he has been named the ACC Golfer of the Month.
James currently leads UVA with a 69.33 stroke average. He has finished first in four events this season and has placed in the top four in nine of 11 collegiate events this season. A total of 27 of his 33 rounds this year have been par or better. He opened UVA’s season by shooting a school record 20-under-par 196 to win the Streamsong Invitational. That performance included a score of 11-under 63.
The All-ACC Team, Player, and Freshman of the Year are decided by a combination of the Golfstat and Golfweek/Sagarin rankings in conjunction with a vote of the league’s 12 head coaches. Coach of the Year is selected by a vote of the coaches.
James and the Cavaliers will begin play at the NCAA Las Vegas Regional starting Monday.
ACC Player of the Year: David Ford, North Carolina
ACC Freshman of the Year: Ben James, Virginia
ACC Coach of the Year: Andrew DiBitetto, North Carolina
All-ACC Team
Cole Anderson, Florida State
Jack Bigham, Florida State
Brett Roberts, Florida State
Frederik Kjettrup, Florida State
Connor Howe, Georgia Tech
Christo Lamprecht, Georgia Tech
Ross Steelman, Georgia Tech
Max Kennedy, Louisville
Jiri Zuska, Louisville
Ryan Burnett, North Carolina
David Ford, North Carolina
Austin Greaser, North Carolina
Dylan Menante, North Carolina
Ben James, Virginia
Michael Brennan, Wake Forest*
* ACC Individual Champion