May 22, 2008

Rice University's Michael Buttacavoli, who just wrapped up his sophomore season as a member of the Owls' golf team, has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI Men's At Large Team as selected by the membership of the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Last month, Buttacavoli was a unanimous selection to the Conference USA All-Academic Golf Team. He led the Rice squad with a 74.08 stroke average.

The Miami Beach, Fla., native placed second at the Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational. He shot a two-round score of 137 (-7) at the opening event of the spring season. He also posted a pair of Top 15 finishes during the season - a tie for 12th at the Rice Intercollegiate and a tie for 16th at the Cuthbert Cup.

Buttacavoli maintains a 3.87 grade point average as a mathematical economic analysis major at Rice.

CoSIDA's District VI comprises Division I universities in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Buttacavoli was one of only two sophomores selected to the 10, student-athlete district team.