NORMAN, Okla. (July 29, 2025) – 2024-25 Cobalt Golf All-America Scholars for NCAA Division II have been announced, and included two members of The University of Texas Permian Basin men's golf team. Earning the recognition were Thonsaeng Nunya and Ioan Rowe.

UTPB Head Golf Coach Paul Chavez said, "The GCAA recognizes a lot of student-athletes in collegiate golf, but I believe that the All-American Scholar award is the most prestigious award because it honors both athletic excellence and academic success, so you have to excel in both in order to be recognized."

A marketing major, Thonsaeng Nunya was named to the 2025 LSC Preseason Golfers to Watch list after posting a 74.0 scoring average in the Fall season. He appeared in all 10 tournaments for the Falcons as a junior, playing in 29 rounds on the year. He held a 74.1 adjusted scoring average for the year and ranked No. 377 in the nation and No. 63 in the South Central Region. He finished at even-par in two tournaments: the Ryan Palmer Foundation Invitational (Oct. 7-8) and the RJGA Palm Valley Classic (Apr. 7-8). His highest finish of the year came via a 16th-place finish at the RJGA South Central Shootout (Sept. 30-Oct. 1) where he shot four-over-par (74-70-76; 220). Nunya (78-78-77; 233; +17) placed 40th at the 2025 Lone Star Conference Men's Golf Championship (Apr. 14-15), shooting plus-five during round three and moving up two spots during the final round. Nunya was named to the Spring 2025 Lone Star Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll.

A management major, Ioan Rowe played in all 10 tournaments for the Falcons in his second year, also totaling 29 rounds. He had a 73.9 adjusted scoring average, had six rounds of par or under with a low round of 69, had one top-five finish and two top-10 finishes, and ranked No. 338 in the nation and No. 51 in the South Central Region. Rowe shot 74-72-72 (218) and was even-par during each of the final two rounds to tie for a spot in the top-10 and help lead UTPB to a win at the RJGA South Central Shootout (Sept. 30-Oct. 1). He tied for fourth place after shooting 75-73 (148) and going plus-one during the final round at the Shadow Valley Invitational (Mar. 3-4). His best score of the year came at the RJGA Men's Palm Valley Classic (Apr. 7-8) where he shot 73-70-70 (213) and finished at three-under-par to take a spot in the top-25. Rowe shot just one-over-par during round two at the LSC Championship (Apr. 14-15) and finished in 48th place at 78-73-86 (237). Rowe was named to the 2024-25 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® Team and was also named to the Spring 2025 Lone Star Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll.

207 NCAA Division II athletes from 78 schools earned 2024-25 Cobalt All-America Scholar honors. To be eligible for Cobalt Golf All-America Scholar nomination, an individual must be a sophomore, junior or senior both academically and athletically in NCAA Division I, II, III, and NAIA. In addition, they must participate in 50 percent of their team's competitive rounds, have a stroke average under 78.0 in NCAA Division II, and maintain a minimum cumulative career grade-point average of 3.2. A recipient must also be of high moral character and be in good standing at their college or university.

Nunya and Rowe are the first UTPB golfers to earn this award in program history.

"It is definitely a testament to our program to have two players recognized," added Chavez. "This is something I am extremely proud of, and I look forward to recognizing out student-athletes' successes every year going forward."

About GCAA
Established in 1958, the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) is the professional organization of men's collegiate golf coaches. The GCAA's mission is to support its member coaches from six divisions, including the NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA, by creating educational opportunities, providing resources, and promoting its members with the purpose of enhancing their overall performance as coaches, mentors, and teachers. The GCAA also recognizes the excellence and achievements of its members and their student-athletes in academic, athletic, and civic endeavors.