O'Meara honored

By Manuel Gamiz Jr., On-Line Forty-Niner

Thursday, October 22, 1998

Former Long Beach State golfer and current professional golfer Mark O'Meara capped an amazing year by clinching the PGA of America Player of the Year Award Wednesday.

The Masters and British Open champion, who picked up the World Matchplay title Sunday, finished ahead of David Duval in the contest for the prestigious honor awarded by the PGA of America every year since 1948.

O'Meara accumulated a total of 134 points to Duval's 90. The scoring was based on tournament wins, official money standings and scoring average.

O'Meara received a 50-point bonus for winning the two majors and stands sixth on this season's money list at $1, 687, 359.

"He won two majors in the same year, which I believe has only been accomplished by 13 other golfers in 50 years," Bob Livingstone, Long Beach State men's golf head coach, said.

O'Meara played four years at LBSU from 1976-79, earning honorable mention All-American honors as a freshman and third team All-American honors as a junior. As a freshman, O'Meara enjoyed All-Pacific Coast Athletic Association honors, as he placed 18th in the NCAA Championships.

In 1978, O'Meara claimed the prestigious Far Western Intercollegiate Championships in Santa Cruz.

"You want to accomplish what he's accomplished," Livingstone said. "He is a fine person and a very accomplished athlete."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.