UWA golf signs five
LIVINGSTON — University of West Alabama golf coach Adam Buie announced that five golfers have signed to play on the first Tiger golf team when competition begins in 2013-14. The first class of UWA signees includes three men and two women.
“I am very excited about the start we are off to. This is a solid group of very talented golfers and wonderful individuals,” Buie said. “I am thrilled to have each join us at UWA. They are no doubt going to help us start a great tradition of golf here.”
Tori Smith of Brooks High School in Killen, Ala., and Jessica Smyth from Cascade Senior High School in Clayton, Ind., constitute the early signees for the women’s team.
A pair of golfers from the Birmingham metro and one from Haleyville, Ala., compose the first of Buie’s men’s signees. William Walker plays his prep golf at Vestavia Hills High School and Trevor Page at Briarwood Christian. Lee Lann will come to UWA from Haleyville High.
Smith won the Alabama Junior Golf Association tournament at Hampton Cove-Highlands, the AJGO at Cypress Lakes and the Veritas Junior World State Qualifier to advance to the national tournament in California.
Smyth qualified for the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship in 2010 at the PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. She won the Indianapolis City Junior and the Indianapolis Mayor’s Cup. Smyth finished second at the Age Group Championship on the Indiana Mountain Dew Tour and was first team All State and Academic All State selection in 2012.
Walker tied for fourth at the Bud Burns Invitational in Selma and finished 19th at the SJGT Vestavia Junior Classic. His was third at the SJGT Gulf Shores Junior Classic. He carded a 75 at the Alabama Golf Association Junior State Championship and shot 74 at Sub-State at the Birmingham Country Club.
Page is a five-time Callaway Junior World Golf Championships Qualifier and an Alabama Golf Association State Junior age division champion. He finished 28th in a strong national field at the North and South Junior in Pinehurst, N.C., and qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur with rounds of 73-76 at the Country Club of Birmingham.
Lann was named All-West Alabama Conference in 2011 and 2012, as well as all-section the last four years. He tied for second at the Pigeon Dove Championship at Musgrove Country Club and finished second at the 2012 AJGO Junior Open Championship at Terri Pines. He finished second at the AJGO at Highland Park and had a low tournament of 70-72 at Ross Bridge on the SJGT.
Buie also announced that Kristy Smith of Carbon Hill High School and Ruston Smith of Meridian Community College are planning to walk on as part of the first UWA golf team. Kristy Smith earned all-county honors as a senior. Ruston Smith recorded a second place finish at the Millsaps Invitational while playing for MCC and made seven AHSAA All-Tournament Teams in 10 attempts at Tuscaloosa County (Ala.) High.