Western Kentucky men’s golfer Jared Salvia, who was diagnosed with cancer more than two years ago, died Saturday.

“Through all of his troubles and battles, you never heard Jared complain,” said WKU coach Brian Tirpak. “His courage was amazing, he set a great example for our team. To a man, everyone in this program just loved him.

“He was an absolute gentleman in every sense of the word. I am honored to be able to say that I was Jared Salvia’s coach.”

Salvia, a native of Vine Grove, was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma in December 2005. He had returned to classes and was a senior on the roster this spring, although he hadn’t competed in a tournament since playing at the Sam Hall Intercollegiate in Jackson, Miss., that fall.

Salvia competed in six of 12 tournaments during the 2003-04 campaign after transferring to the Hill from Elizabethtown Community College, averaging just over 76 strokes per round, including a season-best 71 in the final round of the USA Fall Beach Classic.

In the summer of 2002, he earned medalist honors in qualifying for the Kentucky Open after firing a 67, while he earned top-10 finishes at the Kentucky Junior Amateur three straight years from 2000-02.

Members of the WKU golf team were able to take part in a private ceremony with the Salvia family Sunday before departing to play host to the Kauai Collegiate Cup in Princeville, Hawaii. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Coffey and Chism Funeral Home in Vine Grove, and the funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Brigid Church in Vine Grove.

In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund in Salvia’s honor is set to be established, with all donations going toward the WKU Heartland Alumni Chapter serving Hardin, Larue and Meade Counties. To contribute, contact the College Heights Foundation (attention Alex Downing), 1906 College Heights Blvd., Bowling Green, KY 42101.