Men’s Golf Team Earns Mark Laesch Award

Jan. 14, 2019, Sterling, Colo. — Northeastern Junior College's men's golf team is proud to be announced as the recipient of the 2018 Mark Laesch Award by the Golf Coach's Association of America (GCAA). This award is presented to the team that shows the greatest improvement in adjusted stroke average per individual per round from their previous season. The GCAA recognizes programs from the NCAA Division I, II and III levels, along with National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the National Junior College Athletic Association. The Women's Golf Coaches Association recognizes NCAA Divisions I, II and III.

"We're both excited and humbled to present these awards that honor a man that had such a great passion and impact on college golf and also recognize a program's improvement from one season to the next," said GCAA President, Andrew Sapp and WGCA President Kristi Knight in a joint statement. "Mark Laesch was such a positive person that it seems appropriate that an award that acknowledges improvement be bestowed in his honor."

Northeastern's head golf coach, Vern Harbart, commented, "We're honored to have received this award. Each year we strive to improve as individuals and as a team, so it was great to be recognized for our efforts."

Mark Laesch, founder of Golfstat in 1984, died March 4 in his home in Noblesville, Ind., after a lengthy battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, an incurable disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. He was 62.