Matt Savage, one of the top golfers in Seminole history, is in his first season as an assistant coach for the men's and women's golf programs at Florida State. He earned All-America honors in 2007, was the first player in school history to earn All-ACC honors three times, played on one NCAA Championship final and four NCAA Regional Championship teams and led the Seminoles to the first ACC Championship in school history in 2008. Savage closed his career in 2009 with a 73.09 scoring average in 44 career tournaments - the fifth best average in school history.
Savage works with both the nationally ranked Seminole men's and women's programs in the areas of skill development, recruiting, practice planning and match coaching. He has a unique ability to relate his experiences as both an accomplished player on the collegiate level and as a professional golfer to teach the game of golf to the next generation of Seminole golfers.
Savage was one of the building blocks of the Seminole men's program under Director of Golf Trey Jones from 2006 through his graduation from Florida State in 2009. The Seminoles were nationally ranked during each of his four seasons and finished the 2008 season ranked 11th after winning the ACC Championship for the first time in school history. The Seminoles were ranked as high as No. 7 nationally and earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA West Regional Championship in 2008.
Savage began his professional career on the NGA Hooters Tour soon after his graduation from Florida State and enjoyed three prosperous years on golf's third largest tour. He won his first event as a professional - the 2009 Kentucky Open - and was among the top money winners on the tour during his three seasons.
NATIONAL SUCCESS
Savage earned first place honors at the 2008 North and South Amateur Championship at Pinehurst, advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2006 U.S. Amateur Public Link Championship and played in the 2006 U.S. Amateur Championship.
2008 ACC CHAMPIONSHIP
Savage led Florida State to its first ever Atlantic Coast Conference Championship on April 20, 2008 as the Seminoles defeated Duke by three strokes at the 55th Annual ACC Championship at the Old North State Club at Uwharrie Point. The Seminoles defeated the Blue Devils by four strokes in the third round as they rallied from a one stroke deficit after two rounds to claim the school's first ever ACC championship in the sport of golf. Each of the five team members contributed to the victory as the Seminoles closed the 54-hole tournament with four players under par and only one at over par. Savage led the way with eight-under par 208 scores and finished in a tie for third place in the individual standings.
TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
In addition to leading the Seminoles to the first ACC Championship in school history in 2008, Savage helped Florida State to four tournament championships during his career: the Inverness Intercollegiate (Fall 2007), the Seminole Intercollegiate (Spring 2008), the ACC Championship (Spring 2008) and the Florida State Spring Break Invitational (Spring 2009).
ALL-AMERICAN HONORS
Savage earned regional All-American honors in both 2008 and 2009 and earned All-American Honorable Mention honors from the Golf Coaches' Association of America in 2007. He was named to the PING All-Southeast Regional All-American team in 2008 as he led the Seminoles to the ACC Championship and was named to the Ping / Southeast Regional All-American team in 2009 as he led Florida State to an appearance in the 2009 East Regional Championships. Savage earned Ping / Division I All-America Honorable Mention Honors as a sophomore after finishing in ninth place in the individual standings at the NCAA Championship Finals and earning 11 top 25 finishes in 12 events in 2007.
SCHOOL RECORD SCORE
Savage carded a school record 63 in the second round of the 2009 Florida State Spring Break Invitational. His nine under par score of 63, coupled with a 69 in the first round, allowed Savage to win the individual championship and helped the Seminoles to the team championship in the event. Savage's score of 63 allowed him to gain the first individual championship of his career.
PREP STAR
Savage won the individual state championship, led his team to the state title, was named Mr. Golf in the State of Kentucky and earned National Player of the Year honors by the National High School Golf Coaches Association as a senior at St. Xavier Prep in Louisville in 2005. Savage earned All-America honors from the AJGA as both a junior and a senior, was a four-time All-State First Team honoree and played in the US Publinks Championship in 2005.
ACADEMIC SUCCESS
Savage was an academic standout during his collegiate career at Florida State as he was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2006, 2007 and 2009 and earned his degree in communication studies in 2009. He is one of only three players to earn All-Academic honors at least three times under Seminole men's coach Trey Jones.