Freshman Watson Named UAC Men’s Golfer of the Week
10/8/2026 2:00:00 PM | Men's Golf
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Abilene Christian's Cooper Watson was named the United Athletic Conference's Men's Golfer of the Week, the UAC announced Thursday. Watson delivered a historic performance at the Trinity Forest Invitational this week, logging the lowest 54-hole score by an ACU freshman since 2012 at 5-under 211.
Watson tied for 12th place at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas with the top freshman performance in the Wildcats' Division I era. It's the lowest 54-hole score by a freshman since Corbin Renner shot 2-under 208 at the Dallas Baptist Classic in 2012.
Watson also registered the lowest distance to par by an ACU freshman since Alex Carpenter scored 11-under 205 at the 2010 Lone Star Conference Championship. Watson scored below par in each round, highlighted by a 3-under 69 second round. He shot 1-under 71 in the first and third rounds, totaling 11 birdies. The Wildcats scored 1-over 865.
The Lawton, Okla. product was in the Wildcats' lineup for the first time in his career. Watson began the tournament on a high note with an eagle on his first hole of the opening round. He led ACU with 34 pars and had the fewest bogeys with just eight. Watson ranked within the top 15 in the field in scoring below par on par 3s and par 5s.
Watson beat out golfers from the likes of USC, Baylor, SMU, Rice, East Tennessee State and Loyola Marymount.
The Wildcats return to action at the inaugural Abilene Christian Intercollegiate on Oct. 19-21, broadcast live on the Golf Channel from Halbert National in Granbury, Texas.
Watson tied for 12th place at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas with the top freshman performance in the Wildcats' Division I era. It's the lowest 54-hole score by a freshman since Corbin Renner shot 2-under 208 at the Dallas Baptist Classic in 2012.
Watson also registered the lowest distance to par by an ACU freshman since Alex Carpenter scored 11-under 205 at the 2010 Lone Star Conference Championship. Watson scored below par in each round, highlighted by a 3-under 69 second round. He shot 1-under 71 in the first and third rounds, totaling 11 birdies. The Wildcats scored 1-over 865.
The Lawton, Okla. product was in the Wildcats' lineup for the first time in his career. Watson began the tournament on a high note with an eagle on his first hole of the opening round. He led ACU with 34 pars and had the fewest bogeys with just eight. Watson ranked within the top 15 in the field in scoring below par on par 3s and par 5s.
Watson beat out golfers from the likes of USC, Baylor, SMU, Rice, East Tennessee State and Loyola Marymount.
The Wildcats return to action at the inaugural Abilene Christian Intercollegiate on Oct. 19-21, broadcast live on the Golf Channel from Halbert National in Granbury, Texas.
Players Mentioned
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