July 24, 2015

Complete GCAA Release

NORMAN, Okla. -Former Missouri State men's golf standout Mark Karlsen has been named a 2015 Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar by the Golf Coaches Association of America, the organization announced.

Karlsen, who graduated in May summa cum laude with a degree in general business with a finance minor and 3.97 grade-point average, becomes the sixth Missouri State golfer in history to earn the honor. He joins Eric Straub and Nick Langley (2014), Daily Young (2012 and 2013), Julian Duxin (2003) and Jeff Allen (2001).

The Alleroed, Denmark, native is one of 206 NCAA Division I golfers to receive the distinction this season. Karlsen was one of two Bears to compete in all 11 tournaments this season. He finished the season ranked 23rd in the league in scoring at 75.79, while firing a career-best 69 in the second round of the season-opening Derek Dolenc Invitational on Sept. 8-9. Karlsen helped Missouri State place second as a team in the event hosted by SIUE as he finished one stroke off the lead at 3-over 213 for the tournament.

Karlsen also had a pair of top-25 finishes this spring at the Grover Page Classic (tied 17th, 2-over) and the ORU Shootout (tied 18th, 10-over). He finished his career shooting 20-over 236 to tie for 32nd at the MVC championship on April 27-28 at the Club at Porto Cima.

He is an eight-time dean's list and athletic director's honor roll selection and was also named to the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Team in May.

To be eligible for Scholar All-America status, an individual must be a junior or senior academically, compete in at least three full years at the collegiate level, participate in 50 percent of his team's competitive rounds, have a stroke average under 76 in Division I, 78 in Division II, 77 in NAIA and 79 in Division III, and maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.2. A recipient must also be of high moral character and be in good standing at his college or university.