NORMAN, Okla. — In conjunction with an announcement from the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA), University of Michigan senior men’s golfer Chris O’Neill was named one of five finalists today (Wednesday, March 23) for the 2016 Byron Nelson Award presented by Cleveland Golf/Srixon.

Joining O’Neill for the national honor is Clemson’s Stephen Behr Jr., Illinois’ Alex Burge and Charlie Danielson and Oklahoma State’s Jordan Niebrugge.

O’Neill, a psychology major from Glen Allen, Virginia, continues to have a stellar final campaign, posting four top-10 finishes in the seven events so far this season — The Inverness Intercollegiate (t-6th), Desert Mountain Intercollegiate (t-8th), Windon Memorial Classic (t-9th) and the MacKenzie Invitational (t-10th). With six sub-par rounds — including a season-best 66 (-5) in the first round of the MacKenzie — he is averaging more than a shot better than any of his three previous seasons — 71.78.

For his career, he has yet to miss a tournament in four seasons, starting 43 consecutive events. He has helped U-M to two NCAA regional appearances — individually in 2014 and as a team in 2015. A 2015 All-Big Ten second team selection, O’Neill has twice been named a PING Division I Midwest All-District Team (2014, ’15). He has four Big Ten Golfer of the Week citations and has twice won U-M’s Bert Katzenmeyer Award for lowest scoring average.

Academically, he is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, a 2015 Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar and three-time U-M Athletic Academic Achievement Award recipient and was U-M’s Leaders of Distinction honoree in 2015.

The Bryon Nelson Award is given annually to a graduating senior who excels not only on the golf course but also in the classroom and community.