University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Golden Eagle Golf Team Signs Two
11/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Golden Eagle Golf Team Signs Two HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Head Coach Steve Johnson has added a pair of outstanding golfers to his program during the early signing period. They are Austin Bowen of Hattiesburg and Kyle Ramey of Paducah, Ky. Bowen, 5-10, 155, plays at Presbyterian Christian School in Hattiesburg, where he continues to compile an impressive local, state and regional record. "Austin is the first 'lefty' we?ve have here at Southern Miss in some time," said Johnson. "He is one of the better ball strikers we?ve signed in a long time, he's fundamentally sound in his golf swing, with more than adequate length. In fact, for his size, he's a long hitter. He's very versatile as far as his shot-making skills are concerned." In 2001, Bowen finished second in the Mississippi USGA Junior Tournament, and recorded first-place and fourth-place finishes in Southern Junior Tournaments in Florida. In 2002, he had second-, third-, fifth- and eighth-place finishes in various state and regional junior tournaments, and his overall record shows a pair of first-place finishes, three second-places, a third and a variety of top-10 finishes in local, state and regional tournaments. His home course is Timberton Golf Club in Hattiesburg where his teaching professional is club owner Ron Hickman and his handicap is 0.3. He has recorded a number of sub-70 rounds, including a career-best 67. His high school stroke average was 77.2 as a freshman and dropped to 73.3 his sophomore season. He is the son of Dan and Lucy Bowen. Ramey has been equally impressive, and Johnson says he can have an immediate impact. "Kyle is a real steal for us, and we?re looking forward to having him with us," said Johnson. "He already shoots a lot of low scores, in the mid-60?s, which is something we need. He's an outstanding ball-striker, and he has a lot of shot-making skills in his repertoire that you normally don?t see in a high school player.
"In fact, the two players are very much the same in their skill levels and abilities, they just hit it from different sides of the ball."
Ramey carries a 2.0 handicap and also continues to compile an outstanding record of local, area and regional successes. In the past two seasons, he has four first--place finishes, a third and several top-10 finishes. His best tournament record has been a 65 and his best career round is even better, at 63. He owns victories in both 2002 and 2003 Mid-America Junior Classic, where he shot rounds of 70-70-72--212 to finish first in the 60-player field in the 2002 event and 73-71-66--210 to win the 2003 event, in a 65-player field.
He also finished first in a 2003 State Amateur qualifying event with a 69.
Ramey plays at Paducah's Tilgham High School, and is the son of Wayne and Karen Ramey of Paducah, Ky.
