University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Men's Golf Adds Two to 2011 Class
4/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss men's golf coach Jerry Weeks announced the signings of Drew Kirby (Baton Rouge, La.) and Matthew McKagen (Powder Springs, Ga.) to national letters-of-intent for the 2011-12 season, Monday afternoon.
Kirby is the second-ranked junior golfer in Louisiana by Golfweek Magazine, the 78th-ranked golfer in the Class of 2011, and the 162nd-rated golfer nationally. This year, he played in 12 junior events, earning four Top Five finishes, five Top 10 Finishes and seven Top 20's.
A three-year letterwinner and captain of the golf team at Catholic High School, Kirby was the Individual Medalist at the LHSAA 5A Regional Tournament. He was also named to the All-Metro Team.
As a sophomore in 2009, Kirby was named to the All-State Team after Individual runner-up at the LHSAA 5A Regional Tournament. He led CHS to the State runner-up both years.
Kirby was also one of 12 junior golfers named to the 2010 American Junior Golf Association HP Scholastic Junior All-American Team.
McKagen, who played at Hillgrove High School for head coach Spencer Bernstein, was the 2009 Region 7AAAA champion, setting an 18-hole Hillgrove record with a one-under 71. His performance helped HHS to a third-place finish at the 2009 Region 7AAAA Championships.
That year, McKagen was named the Atlanta Junior Golf Association Player of the Year with two victories and six top four finishes. In eight rounds, he averaged 75.0 strokes per round.
In 2010, he earned three victories and placed in the top three six times to finish second in the Player of the Year standings. He also averaged 75.8 strokes in 10 rounds.
McKagen also had six top ten finishes in 2008
Southern Miss looks to build on this year's freshman class that is currently ranked 24th by Golfstat.com.
McKagen and Kirby join Casey Fernandez (McAlester, Okla.), who signed in the fall, in this year's recruiting class.
