University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Golf Signs Balcke
7/1/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Southern Miss Golf Signs Balcke
Steve Johnson |
HATTIESBURG, Miss.
? Southern Miss Head Men's Golf Coach Steve Johnson has announced the signing of Grant Balcke of Victoria, Australia, to a national letter of intent for the 2004-05 academic year. This marks the third signee of the year for the men's golf program.
Balcke, who is a scratch golfer, has excelled on the regional, state and local levels in Australia. In 2003, Balcke won the Flinders Open Amateur championship and also competed in the Sorrento Open Amateur and was a member of the Yarra Yarra pennant team on the state level. He also qualified to compete in the national Australian Amateur tournament. Balcke finished with a 70.86 scoring average in 2003 and hit 71 percent of his fairways in regulation and 74 percent greens in regulation.
"Grant is an outstanding player, and we feel very fortunate to sign a player of his caliber with our program," Johnson said. "With the addition, along with the additions of our other two signees, this could be one of the top recruiting classes we have had here at Southern Miss."
In 2002, Balcke was a member of the Victorian Team which won the Dean Shakes Stroke play medal at the Australian State Schools Championships. He also was the runner up at the Victorian Junior competition final and won three events on the Victorian Junior summer schedule. Balcke also was the Peninsula District junior champion, match play champion and stroke play medalist.
Balcke is the third signee for the Southern Miss men's golf program for the 2004-05 school year. The team also will have the services of Austin Bowen, from Presbyterian Christian High School in Hattiesburg, Miss., and Kyle Ramey, from Tilgham High School in Paducah, Ky.
