Former NorthWood star golfer Alec Dutkowski is one of five collegiate players up for the NAIA Jack Nicklaus Player of the Year Award.

NORMAN, Okla. – Taylor junior Alec Dutkowski has been named one of five finalists for the NAIA Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award presented by Barbasol, the Golf Coaches Association of American has announced.

Dutkowski is a former standout at NorthWood High School. He led the Panthers to their first-ever appearance at the State Finals in 2014, where he tied for 17th place among individuals. Dutkowski was also the NLC Medalist in 2015 for the Panthers.

The Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award presented by Barbasol honors the NAIA Player of the Year and is presented at a ceremony during the final round of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Columbus Ohio May 28 to June 3, 2018.

Dutkowski is one of five finalists for the NAIA award. The All-American led the 11^th-ranked Trojans to a third consecutive Crossroads League title last month and will compete next week as the Trojans make their third straight appearance in the NAIA National Championship.

“This is a tremendous honor for Alec and we couldn’t be more excited for him,” Taylor coach Cameron Andry said. “Alec is not only a fantastic player but he is a great leader and teammate and has helped lift our program to new heights during his career at TU. Being named a finalist for the Jack Nicklaus Player of the Year award speaks to the hard work Alec continues to put into his game.”

Dutkowski, the son of Bill and Sharon Dutkowski of Wakarusa, owns a 71.4 scoring average in 26 tournament rounds this season. The Crossroads League Player of the Year has five tournament victories and 11 top-five finishes in 12 events.

Dutkowski was also the Crossroads League Player of the Year as a sophomore when he earned NAIA Second-Team All-American honors. He led the Trojans in scoring average as a freshman at 74.9.

In addition to receiving the Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award, the five recipients (one from each division of college golf) will compete in the Barbasol Shootout for an exemption into the PGA TOUR’s Barbasol Championship, held July 16-22, at the Champions at Keene Trace in Lexington, Ky. The Barbasol Shootout will be held Saturday, June 2 at the storied Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio – the same club where Jack Nicklaus first learned the game of golf as a young boy.

The NAIA Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year award will be on May 31.