Alvarez named PING All-American

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PROVO -- BYU's top golfer Oscar Alvarez was named to the PING All-America Second Team after completing a stellar junior season where he led BYU to a fourth-place NCAA finish.

Alvarez ended the season with a seventh-place individual finish at in the National Championships and helped BYU to its best NCAA finish since 1986. Alvarez is BYU's first second-team or first-team All-American since Andy Miller in 2000. He was one of 10 individuals named to the PING All-America Second Team.

"Oscar is very deserving of this honor," BYU head coach Bruce Brockbank said. "He has been a very big part of what this team accomplished this year. He's an outstanding golfer and deserves to be mentioned among the best."

This is Alvarez's second All-American citation following an honorable mention citation after his sophomore year. He was also named first-team All-Mountain West Conference for the second consecutive year. His season stroke average of 71.28 was the best on the team and third best in the MWC behind No. 1-ranked Ryan Moore of UNLV and No. 2-ranked Spencer Levin of New Mexico. Alvarez ended the season ranked No.12 in the nation according to Golfstat.com and No. 22 by GolfWeek Magazine.

He was the top Cougar individual finisher in seven out of BYU's 14 tournaments during 2004-05. At the 2005 NCAA West Regional he set the course record with a 63 in the first round at the Stanford Golf Course. He went on to finish fourth at the West Regional. Alvarez finished among the top five individuals five times this year including a victory at the Barona Collegiate Cup back in October. He finished among the top 20 individuals in 12 out of 14 tournaments this season.