SIOUX CITY, Iowa – On the heels of a GPAC title and earning a berth in the NAIA Championships, the Northwestern men’s golf team had three individuals receive honors from the GPAC. Jackson Laven was named the GPAC Player of the Year, Aaron Aberson the GPAC Coach of the Year, and Qwenton Caldwell was selected to the First Team.
“Jackson and Qwenton worked incredibly hard for these honors and were key pieces to our team’s success,” Aberson said. “Their performance at the GPAC Championship was a memorable one. They brought their best when it mattered most.”
Jackson Laven – GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Player of the Year
After finishing tied for first in a playoff at the GPAC Championships in 2023, Laven (Jr., Okoboji, Iowa) won the GPAC Individual Championship, shooting even to win back-to-back meets. He enters the NAIA Championships with seven top-10 finishes and has shot even or below four times this season. Laven’s low round this season was a 66 in the third round of the UC Ferguson Classic on August 28-29.
Aaron Aberson – GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Coach of the Year
Aberson received the GPAC Coach of the Year award for the seventh time in his coaching career, leading the Raiders to a GPAC title at the end of April. It is his first time earning the honor after a six-year streak from 2012-18. Northwestern enters the NAIA tournament on an impressive run, winning their last two meets at the Raider Invitational and the GPAC Championships. On the season, the Raiders have six top-five team finishes and 16 top-10 individual finishes.
Qwenton Caldwell – First Team
Caldwell (So., Littleton, Colo.) enters the NAIA Championships coming off of a second-place finish at the GPAC meet. He shot one over in the three-round event, finishing one stroke behind teammate Jackson Laven for first. After sitting in a tie for seventh after Day 1, Caldwell rocketed up the leaderboard with a 69 in round three.
In addition to Northwestern’s Aberson and Laven earning Coach and Player of the Year awards, Morningside’s Edgar Eriksson was named the GPAC Newcomer of the Year. The top ten golfers from the GPAC tournament were considered the GPAC All-Tournament team for 2024, with the medalist (Laven) being named the captain of the All-Tournament team.
Caleb Doker from Dordt University was an Honorable Mention all-conference selection.
