By Gary Lloyd
Former Pinson Valley golfer John Michael O’Toole has been selected as the Alabama Sports Writers Community College Athlete of the Year for his year at Central Alabama Community College.
Central Alabama head golf coach Dave Jennings nominated O’Toole for the award.
“John Michael is one of the finest young men I have coached since coming to CACC,” Jennings said.
O’Toole competed in each tournament event for CACC over his two-year college golf career. The CACC golf team won the 2013 NJCAA Division 1 men’s golf national championship last month. O’Toole carried a 3.53 accumulative GPA at CACC and was a two-year team academic All-American.
The Central Alabama Community College men’s golf team, including Pinson Valley alum John Michael O’Toole, seventh from left.
photo courtesy of Central Alabama Community College Athletics
O’Toole was a 2012 All-Region athlete and a 2013 PING Honorable Mention All-American.
O’Toole has signed a letter of intent with the University of Cincinnati for this fall.
“Most days, J.M. was the first to arrive at practice and the last to leave while always having an objective,” Jennings said in an email.
Jennings said O’Toole was a “tremendous model” for the CACC golf team over the past two years.
“He was never too busy to help a teammate with their golf, schoolwork or personal issues,” Jennings said. “This young man is a true gentleman to all he encounters and a fabulous ambassador to our college and golf team.”
O’Toole graduated from Pinson Valley High School in 2011. He won the Class 5A individual state championship that year at Magnolia Grove in Mobile. He shot 72 and 69 in the tournament, which Pinson Valley placed fifth in as a team.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
