ETSU golfer Ege named Southern Conference Athlete of Year

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — East Tennessee State University golfer Mats Ege was named the Southern Conference Male Athlete of the Year by the conference office on Monday.

Ege, a PING First Team All-American, is the third male athlete from ETSU to receive this prestigious SoCon accolade, following in the footsteps of basketball star Keith “Mister” Jennings in 1991 and football standout B.J. Adigun in 1998. Notable former recipients of this award include basketball icons Jerry West from West Virginia and Steph Curry from Davidson, as well as former Appalachian State football player Dexter Coakley, who had a successful 10-year NFL career with the Cowboys and Rams.

ETSU Athletic Director Dr. Richard Sander expressed pride in Ege’s achievement, describing him as one of the all-time greats at the university with exceptional leadership qualities both on and off the golf course. Ege’s remarkable season included winning the SoCon Player of the Year title for the second consecutive year, being a finalist for the Haskins Award, and earning a spot on the Ben Hogan Watch List.

Throughout the season, Ege secured three victories at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate, Wake Forest Invitational, and SoCon Championship, contributing to a record-breaking scoring average of 69.25. With an impressive performance at the NCAA Championship, Ege achieved the sixth-lowest 72-hole score in program history, helping the team finish 12th, their best result since 2001.

In expressing gratitude for the support he received, Ege credited his teammates, coaches, and everyone involved in the ETSU Golf program for their contributions to his success. He plans to remain in Johnson City to continue honing his skills using the excellent facilities and competing with his teammates as he embarks on his professional golf career.