2012-13: Played in all 10 events as a senior, ranking second on the team and 14th in the Sun Belt Conference with a 74.46 scoring average … Totaled seven top-25 finishes on the year, including two top-ten finishes and a runner-up showing at the Cardinal Intercollegiate (Sept. 24-25) in Louisville, Ky. … Began the season by earning a tie for 17th in the 87-person field at the Sam Hall Intercollegiate (Sept. 10-11) in Hattiesburg, Miss. … Fired a three-under par 68 in the final round to finish at one-over 214 (74-72-68) in Hattiesburg … Earned a runner-up finish at the Cardinal Intercollegiate in Louisville, Ky., by carding an even-par 72 in the final round to finish at four-under 212 (69-71-72) … Fired a final-round, one-over par 73 to finish in a tie for seventh at the ASU Fall Beach Classic (Nov. 5-6) at six-over par 222 (74-75-73) … Shot a four-over par 76 in the final round of the UALR/First Tee Collegiate Classic (March 25-26) at Chenal CC to finish in a tie for 14th with a three-round total of 232 (77-79-76) … Tied for 16th at the Jim West Intercollegiate (April 8-9) in Victoria, Texas, finishing at eight-over par 224 (72-76-76) for the tournament … Tied for 13th at the Sun Belt Championships (April 21-24) in Muscle Shoals, Ala., after finishing at six-over par 222 (70-73-79) for the tournament ... Was named to Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar Team ... Named to Sun Belt Conference Commissioner's List for earning a GPA of 3.5 or better.
2011-12: Played in all 10 events as a junior, ranking second on the team and 20th in the Sun Belt Conference with a 73.97 scoring average … Had eight top-25 finishes on the year, including three top-10 showings … Captured the first individual title of his career at the weather-shortened Cardinal Intercollegiate (Sept. 26-27), earning medalist honors with a seven-under par 137 total (67-70) … The five-under par 67 in the first round of the Cardinal Intercollegiate marked a career low, and was one of seven sub-par rounds on the year … Opened the season with a three-under par 210 (70-70-70) at the par-71 Sam Hall Intercollegiate (Sept. 12-13) to finish in a tie for 10th place … Came in at five-over par 221 (71-72-78) at the Memphis Intercollegiate (April 9-10) to earn a share of fourth place … Carded a season-best four-over par 220 on a par-72 course at the Wildcat Invitational (Oct. 10-11) and the Argent Financial Classic (March 11-13).
2010-11: Saw action in nine events as a sophomore, averaging 74.71 strokes per round ... Recorded the first top-10 finish of his career at the Memphis Intercollegiate (Oct. 25-26), leading the Trojans with a season-best five-over par 221 (72-74-75) to earn a share of eighth place ... Fired a season-low 71 on two occasions, the last of which came in the second round at the ASU Red Wolf Intercollegiate (April 11-12) where he finished at one-over par 145 at the weather-shortened event ... Tied for 25th place at the 2011 Sun Belt Conference Championships (April 25-27) with a six-over par 150 (75-75) ... Competed in the 2011 World University Games in Shenzen, China with the USA golf team ... Won the 2011 Maumelle Classic and the 2011 Summit Bank Classic.
2009-10: Played in 10 events as a true freshman, recording four top-25 finishes while averaging 75.37 strokes per round ... Opened his collegiate career with a one-over par 217 (73-68-76) to earn a share of 14th place at the Purple and Red Invitational (Sept. 28-29), fueled by a season-low 68 in the second round ... Led the Trojans with a six-over par 222 total (74-72-76) at the UALR/First Tee Collegiate Classic (March 29-30) to tie for 18th place ... Fired a one-under par 69 in the opening round of the Wyoming Cowboy Classic (April 5-6) ... Named to the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner's List for achieving a grade point average of 3.5 or above.
High School: The 2007 Arkansas 7A State Champion ... A three-time 5A and 7A All-State selection at Cabot High School ... Earned 5A and 7A All-Conference honors all four years of his prep career ... Helped lead the Panthers to the 2005 5A Conference title ... Played for head coach Ronnie Tollett ... Named ASGA Player of the Year in 2009 ... Recorded wins at the 2009 River Valley Men's Stroke Play Championship and the 2009 Summit Bank Classic ... Named the ASGA Junior Player of the Year in 2007 ... Won the ASGA Junior Match Play Championship in 2007 and 2008 ... Won over 12 ASGA junior events in a two-year span (2007-08) ... Graduated with a 3.99 grade point average ... A member of both the Honors Society and the Spanish Honors Society.
Personal: Full name is Nicklaus Jordan Benton ... Son of Jeff and Shelley Benton ... Born Aug. 14, 1990 in Little Rock, Ark. ... Has one brother, Colby, and one sister, Shelley ... His brother, Colby, is also a member of the men's golf team at UALR ... Majoring in business management with a minor in accounting.
