Cullowhee, N.C.  – Western Carolina men's golfers Jace Butcher and Andrew Korytoski were both named Cobalt Golf All-America Scholars for NCAA Division I, as selected and released by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). The rising seniors added the prestigious postseason academic honor to their respective resumes stemming from the 2025-26 season.
 
Butcher and Korytoski are just the second and third Catamount men's golfers selected to the GCAA All-American Scholars team all-time, joining JT Poston, who was a two-time selection in both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.
 
The Catamount duo both collected SoCon Men's Golfer of the Week plaudits in 2025-26, Korytoski earning his honor in the fall and Butcher recognized in the spring semester. The two likewise garnered 2026 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District At-Large plaudits, were selected to the 2025-26 Academic All-Southern Conference team, and named to the 2025-26 SoCon Academic Honor Roll. Butcher also earned a SoCon Commissioner's Medal.
 
Butcher finished the season second in scoring on the Catamount roster and 10th in the SoCon with a seasonal stroke average of 72.06 – the seventh-best single-season in WCU men's golf history. Each of his 32 rounds was carded in the 70s or better, shooting in the 60s seven times. He matched a career-low with a season-opening 67. The Kennesaw, Ga., product posted four Top 10 finishes, including his first collegiate medalist honors at Georgia's Southern Intercollegiate.
 
Korytoski carded a seasonal stroke average of 73.88, fourth on the squad and 32nd overall in the SoCon.  A total of 28 of his 32 rounds were carded in the 70s or better, including a trio of rounds shot in the 60s, twice posting a season-low round of 68. The Cataula, Ga., native recorded a pair of Top 10 individual finishes, leading WCU with a third-place showing at West Virginia's Nemacolin Collegiate.
 
 A combined 649 NCAA D-I men's golf student-athletes from 210 schools earned the 2025-26 Cobalt Golf All-America Scholar honors. There were 23 programs nationwide that had at least five recipients this year, with three boasting six honorees, while 81 NCAA Division I schools had at least four recipients.
 
Twenty-two golfers from the Southern Conference were recognized, including a league-best four from Furman, Samford, and UNCG. Mercer had three honored,  with both Chattanooga and Wofford joining WCU with two apiece, while ETSU had one selected to the team.
 
Though it didn't compete in the SoCon during the 2025-26 season, the SoCon's newest team, Tennessee Tech, had four golfers selected to the GCAA team.
 
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, or receiving their associate's degree and in their last year of athletic eligibility in the NJCAA. In addition, they must participate in 50% of their team's competitive rounds, have a stroke average under 76.0 in NCAA Division I, 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.
 
Western Carolina opens its 2026-27 season on August 31 at the Fall Jaguar Invitational, hosted by Augusta University at the Forest Hills Country Club in Augusta, Ga. The Catamounts have a 10-event regular-season schedule, equally spread over the fall and spring semesters, that culminates with the champion-crowning 2027 SoCon Men's Golf Championship in Pawleys Island, S.C., on April 26-28.
 
Highlighted by the return of reigning conference men's golfer of the year Tyler Jones, and four seniors including Butcher, Korytoski, Michael Bevins, and Dalton Payne, the Catamounts have an 11-golfer roster for the 2026-27 season. Second-year strikers Charlie Coe, Hayden Magnussen, and Connor Williams are joined by transfer newcomers Andrew Perry (Guilford College) and Connor Warren (Charlotte), and freshman Brewer Lael (Newton, N.C).
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount men's golf and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Instagram (@wcu_catamounts), and Twitter (@catamounts, @CatamountMGolf).
 
About Cobalt Golf
Cobalt is a direct-to-consumer golf brand focused on developing premium laser rangefinders for golfers who demand the best out of their gear. Cobalt rangefinders deliver repeatable accuracy, rugged durability, intuitive operation, and reliable performance. Learn more at www.cobalt-golf.com.
 
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. For more information, please visit www.gcaa.coach.