Senior golfer Kevin Ward was named to the 2005 All-Big 12 Conference team Wednesday for the first time in his four-year career.

Ward has been the team-leader and the most consistent golfer for the Jayhawks all season long.

He leads the team with his 72-stroke average.

His top performance of the season came at the Colorado-Stevinson Ranch Invitational March 21-22.

In the second round, Ward fired a career-low 64 and went on to win the tournament, shooting a three-round total of 208 (8-under-par).

The Leawood native propelled Kansas to its second consecutive victory in the event and sixth in the past seven years.

Ward was named national player of the week by Golfweek on April 1 for his play in the Stevinson Ranch Invitational.

This spring, Ward has been the top finisher in five of the Jayhawk’s seven tournaments, and eight of the 10 tournaments in the 2004-05 season.

“He’s one of the hardest working players we’ve ever had,” coach Ross Randall said. “I am glad to see that all of his hard work finally paid off.”

Ward’s name appears on a list with some of the best players in college golf. Oklahoma’s Anthony Kim, Big 12 Tournament champion, was named the 2005 Men’s Big 12 Golf Player of the Year. Also on this year’s all-conference team were Jeremy Alcorn of Baylor, Tyler Leon, Zack Robinson and Alex Noren of Oklahoma State and Matthew Rosenfeld of Texas.

Oklahoma State’s Pablo Martin won the Newcomer of the Year award, and Oklahoma State coach Mike Holden won Coach of the Year for the third time.

Kevin Ward will next lead the Jayhawks into play at the NCAA Regionals in South Bend, Ind., on May 19-21. Kansas is seeded fourth in the tournament.