CMU's Jason Li up for prestigious Jack Nicklaus Award

Carnegie Mellon sophomore Jason Li is a semifinalist — one of 30 players nationally — for the prestigious NCAA Division III Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award.

Li, a Sewickley Academy graduate, is having one of the best scoring seasons in the country. He was selected by the Golf Coaches Association of America. He recently was named the University Athletic Association Player of the Year.

With a 72.5 scoring average, Li leads the Tartans in 21 rounds, and tied the school record with a 4-under-par 67 at the Strimer Memorial Invitational. He had four rounds in the 60s and eight sub-par rounds.

Li helped CMU to its third consecutive NCAA Division III championships appearance. The finals will be Tuesday through Friday at Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Ky.

The Nicklaus Award recognizes the top players at the Division I, II, III, NAIA and NJCAA levels. Finalists will be announced at the GCAA Division III National Awards Banquet Tuesday.

Nicklaus Award winners will be unveiled May 30. Jack Nicklaus will present the awards during the final round of his Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

There’s more: The five recipients will compete in the Barbasol Shootout for an exemption into the PGA TOUR’s Barbasol Championship, July 18-21 at the Champions at Keene Trace. The Barbasol Shootout will be June 1 at The Ohio State University Golf Club’s Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio, where Nicklaus played his college golf.