J.J. Killeen earns Nationwide Tour Player of the Year

J.J. Killeen has been voted as the 2011 Nationwide Tour Player of the Year, the PGA Tour announced today.

Just as big brother's (PGA Tour) award is voted on by the players, so too is the Nationwide Tour's POY award.

"Congratulations to J.J. on his great play this year and being named 2011 Nationwide Tour Player of the Year," PGA TOUR commissioner Tim Finchem said after making the announcement on the award.

"J.J. joins an impressive roster of former Nationwide Tour alumni who are winning and having a great deal of impact on the PGA TOUR. With two victories and the money title among his accomplishments this year, he is well positioned to succeed on TOUR in 2012."

Killeem, a Texas Christian University graduate and Fort Worth, Texas native, beat out Matthew Goggin, Jason Kokrak and Ted Potter Jr. for the honor in 2011.

With a year that was highlighted by back-to-back wins at the Utah Championship and the Cox Classic, Killeen won the Nationwide Tour money title, earning $414,273 and will of course tee it up next year on the PGA Tour.

He also made the cut in 21 out of 25 events, had six top-5 finishes as well as finishing at the top of the Nationwide Tour's statistical categories in: putting average (1.703), putts per round (28.24), birdie or better conversion (36.19%) and total birdies (398).

"I'm elated to have been named 2011 Nationwide Tour Player of the Year by my peers," said Killeen after being notified of his award.

"This has been an incredible year for me, and fortunately my family has been on Tour many times and been able to enjoy much of my success first hand. I'm anxious to get out on the PGA Tour."

"Seeing what guys like Keegan Bradley, Brendan Steele and the others who played the Nationwide Tour last year have done on TOUR this year gives me a great deal of confidence I will follow in their footsteps."

"I would like to thank my fellow players who voted for me and the many others who contributed to this very exciting and memorable year."

Killeen also joins PGA Tour stars such as Stewart Cink, Tom Lehman, Chad Campbell, Jerry Kelly and Zach Johnson as Nationwide Tour Players of the Year.

Not a bad list of names to be associate with in the game of golf.

Congratulations to J.J. Killeen on this honor and we look forward to seeing him in 2012 on the PGA Tour.

Quotes courtesy of the PGA Tour