April 18, 2008

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest senior Webb Simpson has been named a semifinalist for the Ben Hogan Award, presented annually to the nation's top men's golfer.

Simpson, the 2007 North Carolina Amateur Player of the Year, could become the second Demon Deacon to win the award. Wake's Bill Haas was named the top male college golfer of 2004.

Simpson was second team All-America (Golfweek) in 2006 and honorable mention All-America (Ping) in 2005, 2006 and 2007. This is the fourth consecutive year Simpson has been named to the Ben Hogan Award watch list.

The Ben Hogan Award finalists will be announced May 7 and those three will be invited to Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, for the Hogan Award presentation on the evening of May 18. The 1964 U.S. Open winner and former CBS golf analyst Ken Venturi will be the keynote speaker.

Simpson leads the Deacs this season with a 70.2 stroke average per 18 holes and is the No. 1 amateur golfer in the world, according to Golfweek.

The Raleigh-native won the Western Refining All-America Classic in November after posting a 62-72-64 to finish 15 under par at the El Paso Country Club in Texas.

Simpson went on to make the cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Bay Hill, a PGA tour event the senior qualified for by winning the Southern Amateur in 2007. Simpson shot a two-under 68 in the final round in Bay Hill to finish tied for 31st.