The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Men's Golf Adds Five In Early Signing Period
11/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Five players signed National Letters of Intent to join the UAB men’s golf team for the 2015-16 season, head coach Alan Murray announced on Sunday.
Tim Harry (Wales), John Hayden (Birmingham, Ala.), Wells Hooper (Montgomery, Ala.), Murray Naysmith (Scotland) and William Walker (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) all signed NLI’s during the early signing period.
“Tim Harry and Murray Naysmith are both rising stars in their respective countries,” Murray said. “Tim is from Wales and Murray is from Scotland. They have very strong playing resumes and have represented their countries on numerous occasions. They are both really ambitious and hard working kids as well as being very talented golfers. They come from great families and want to combine playing the highest level of amateur golf with getting an education.”
Harry, a member of the Vale of Glamorgan golf club, became the youngest winner of the Duncan Putter event, taking the title at age 15. He was selected to represent Wales at the Wales vs. Yorkshire in 2013. During 2014, he has earned three top-15 finishes, including a third place finish at the 2014 British Boys event.
Naysmith has already collected numerous accolades in his young career. He was a member of the Dunfermline building Society Scottish Boys Area Team Championship in 2012.
He had a strong year in 2013, competing for the Paul Lawrie Foundation Junior Jug, European Young Masters and International Junior Masters. In 2014, he earned a second place finish at the Scottish Hydro Boys Order of Merit and helped Scotland secure bronze at the European Boys.
“They fit in really well to the model we are trying to develop here,” Murray said. “I am very excited to add them both to our program and they will represent UAB and our program really well. I am really looking forward to having them be here and work with them on a daily basis and watch their development over their time at UAB. They will gel well with the group we already have here.”
UAB’s three signees from Alabama are some of the top players across the state and will add even more depth to the men’s golf program.
“John Hayden, William Walker and Wells Hooper are three of the best players in their age group from the state of Alabama. We are delighted to have them commit to UAB. I always felt with each of them they were going to be a good fit for our program. They are talented, intelligent, good human beings from good families and they all want to be Blazers. It has been really enjoyable getting to know them and their families and I think getting three strong players like this from our state shows the progress our program is making and that we have a great reputation for helping kids improve.”
Hayden, who hails from Birmingham, brings plenty of experience as a junior golfer. He competed in three AJGA events in 2014; earning top 50 finishes in each of those events. He also earned a third place finish at the SJGT Magnolia Grove Junior Classic and was 15th at the Greg Norman Champions Golf Academy Junior Championship. Hayden has accumulated six top 10 finishes from 2012-14.
Walker, a native of Tuscaloosa, Ala., has had a decorated high school career. He won the Boys Division at the Preseason Junior at Vinoy in his first AJGA start. He also earned the individual titlae in the Tom Bell Memorial. Walker has competed in the Alabama State Amateur and Southern Junior in 2014.
Hooper, from nearby Montgomery, Ala., was named All-Metro Golfer of the Year in 2014 for his performance as a junior at St. James. He earned a second place finish in the Class 4A state tournament, won the sectional tournament and finished second in the substate tournament. Hooper has also competed in several AJGA and SJGT events as a junior, earning three top 10 finishes.
“These guys want to play at the next level but are also very committed to being the students they can be and want to be successful in the classroom also. That is really important to our program and me. A college degree is something to be proud of and I want every kid that comes through our program to leave with that. All three have had very strong performances in junior tournaments over the last few years and are tough, gritty competitors. Doing well matters to these guys and I like that about them. It makes for a very exciting year when all five get on campus and begin their UAB careers.”
For the latest news on Blazer sports, follow the UAB Athletics Twitter account: @UABathletics. For men's golf news, follow @UAB_MensGolf.
