McKINNEY, Texas — David Nyfjäll was named the 2023 Byron Nelson Award recipient by the Salesmanship Club of Dallas and GCAA this afternoon at TPC Craig Ranch. Awarded every year since 2002, Nyfjäll joins Ryan Lumsden (2019) as the only other Northwestern golfer to receive the Nelson Award.
The recipient, a graduating senior, is recognized for his achievement in the classroom, on the course, and in his community. Particular consideration is given to their good citizenship, as portrayed by Mr. Nelson over the course of his life and golf career.
Nyfjäll graduates next month with a bachelor’s degree in Statistics and minors in Business Institutions, Psychology, and Data Science. The 3.776 GPA student from Uppsala, Sweden has been involved with Northwestern’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) since he stepped foot in Evanston, volunteering his time for canned food drives, the annual Lip Sync Battle to benefit the Northwestern’s dance marathon, and with his teammates at the local golf course to help with course restoration.
“Winning the Byron Nelson Award is incredibly special,” said Nyfjäll. “It’s such an honor to have the opportunity to represent Mr. Nelson and his legacy of prioritizing helping others.”
Through Northwestern Golf, Nyfjäll has been a Team IMPACT role model to Luke Rowen since August 2020, a connection that has soared with each meeting. Team IMPACT matches children facing serious illness and disability with college sports teams across America.
“From the first moment I met Luke in person, I knew he would change what golf meant to me as a player and leader,” Nyfjäll said. “With Luke, I’m constantly looking for ways to learn together, whether it be at our practice facility or over a cornhole match in our coach’s backyard.”
Rowen was born with cerebral palsy but has always been active in sports at his school and quickly developed a love for golf through his friendship with Nyfjäll. Before Rowen’s first race as an aspiring runner, Nyfjäll sent him a video of encouragement and had one of his friends, who was on Northwestern’s cross country team, send a text with her tips to race and how to “stay smiling” when things got tough.
“Next thing we knew, Luke had Northwestern cross country runners and David’s parents showing up at his races to cheer him on!” said the Rowen family.
Nyfjäll has learned just as…
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