13 minute read
Player Bios
grant smith
freshman
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MONTGOMERY, ALA. (MONTGOMERY CATHOLIC PREPARATORY SCHOOL)
HIGH SCHOOL
• Earned five individual high school wins • Had a high school career low of 65 and an average score of 70.0 in 2020 • Won the 59th Bud Burns Dixie Invitational in September 2020 after finishing a three-under-par total of 139 in the 36 hole event • Named the Montgomery Metro Player of the Year in both 2018 and 2019 • Was the 2019 Blue-Grey High School Invitational champion • Named the Montgomery Catholic Most Valuable Player for all four years of his high school career
PERSONAL
• Full name is Christopher Grant Smith • Son of Kristin and Michael Smith • Has three siblings, Drew, Katie and John • Born July 12, 2002
joel thomas stephens
freshman
RUSTON, LA. (CEDAR CREEK SCHOOL)
HIGH SCHOOL
• Graduated from Cedar Creek School • Lettered all four years in high school in football and baseball • Named First Team All-District in football as a junior and senior • Earned First Team All-Academic honors all four years • Member of the National Honor Society
PERSONAL
• Full name is Joel Thomas Stephens • Son of Tim and Anna Stephens • Born on May 22, 2002 in Shreveport, La.
payne johnson
sophomore
Shreveport, La. (Texas State)
2020-21
• Did not compete • Started collegiate career at Texas State before transferring to LA Tech • Graduated from C.E. Byrd High School in 2020 • Four-year starter on the golf team • Helped lead Byrd to back-to-back Louisiana Class 5A state championships in 2018 and 2019 where he also finished in the top five individually • Had three top 10 American Junior Golf Association finishes • Named the Allstate Sugar Bowl Tommy Moore Memorial Champion in 2019
Personal
• Son of Anna and Mike Johnson • Born Oct. 12, 2001 in Shreveport, La.
will patrick
sophomore
Oneonta, Ala. (Oneonta HS)
CAREER HONORS & AWARDS
• Competed in five events • Registered a stroke average of 78.17 over 12 rounds • Shot a season-low 69 in the second round of the Latour
Intercollegiate (Feb. 14)
High School
• Six-time letterwinner in golf at Oneonta High School • Named an Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) All Star and an AGA Amateur medalist in qualifiers for both 2018 and 2019 • AHSAA State Championship individual runner up in class 4A in 2019 • Fired a two-under 70 in the 103rd Alabama State Amateur
Championship Sectional Qualifying round to earn co-medalist honors in 2019
Personal
• Full name is William Steven Patrick • Son of Steve and Michelle Patrick • Has one brother, Sam • Father, Steve, played football at Jacksonville State from 1985-89 • Born on Nov. 9, 2001, in Trussville, Ala.
hunter battles
junior
Muscle Shoals, Ala. (Muscle Shoals HS)
CAREER HONORS & AWARDS
• Registered a stroke average of 75.68 over 19 rounds • Shot a career-low 71 in the first round of the Intercollegiate at The
Grove (Oct. 12)
2019-20
• Competed in three tournaments as a freshman • Recorded a 77.75 scoring average over 8 competitive rounds • Shot a season-low 72 at the Jim Rivers Intercollegiate to open the season
High School
• Lettered six years for coach Derrick Gargis at Muscle Shoals High
School in Alabama • Helped lead the program to the Alabama Class 6A state title in 2017 and 2018 • Medalist at the Athens High School Invitational in 2018 and the
Brooks High School Invitational in 2017 • Team captain in 2017 and 2018 • Selected to represent the state of Alabama at the 2018 Southern
Junior Cup Matches • Named to the Times Daily Al-Area first team every year since eighth grade • Qualified for the 2018 Southern Amateur Championships and then made the cut at the event (1 of only 2 high school players to make the cut) • Finished second at the 2018 Alabama Boys State Junior
Championships (won the 16-18 Division) at Glen Lakes Golf Club • His first round 64 at the event tied the course record • Tied for 22nd at the 2018 Southern Junior Championships at Squire Creek Golf Course • Won the division and finished 10th overall at the 2018 Daikin Spirit of America Championships at Burningtree Country Club • Member of the National Honor Society • Named a Muscle Shoals High School Ambassador • Member of the 30+ Club at Muscle Shoals (recognizes students who make a 30 or higher on any section of the ACT)
Personal
• Full name is Hunter Braxton Battles • Son of Micah and Kelly Battles • Born Jan. 27, 2001 in Tuscumbia, Ala.
mac murphy
senior
Decatur, Ala. (calhoun cc)
CAREER HONORS & AWARDS
C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll (2021) Third Team All-Conference USA (2021) First Team All-Louisiana (2020, 2021) First Team All-Conference USA (2020) Louisiana Newcomer of the Year (2020) 2020-21
• Competed in all 10 events • Led the team with a stroke average of 72.56 over 25 rounds • Finished a team-best 14 rounds at or under par • Shot a season-low 67 twice at the LaTour Intercollegiate (Feb. 14) and the Linger Longer Invitational (March 14) • Tied for second twice with a -5 at the Latour Intercollegiate and -4 at the Huntsville Toyota Bearkat Invitational • Placed in the top 30 in eight tournaments • Named first team all-Conference USA • Earned LSWA Newcomer of the Year and First Team All-Louisiana
Honors • Recorded the lowest average round on the team (71.53) in his junior season • Placed in the top-five at the Jim Rivers Intercollegiate (-5, 2nd) and
Tiger Invitational (-5, 3rd) • Earned C-USA Golfer of the Week honors in the final week of the season after carding a 211(70-72-69) at the Tiger Invitational • Placed in the top-30 at 5 of the Bulldogs' 6 tournaments in a
COVID-19 shortened season
Junior College
• Played for Coach Richard Morgan at Calhoun Community College • Ranked No. 3 in the NJCAA rankings • Top three at the Alabama state match play • Won the individual title at the 2018 Warhawk Invitational • Top 5 finish at the 2018 Northeast Community College Invitational • Finished second at the 2018 Calhoun Community College Invitational • Recorded a fall scoring average of 71
High School
Personal
sam murphy
senior
Decatur, Ala. (calhoun cc)
CAREER HONORS & AWARDS
Second Team All-Louisiana (2021) 2020-21
• Competed in all 10 events • Won his first individual tournament after finishing the LaTour Intercollegiate with a combined -7 (69+68=137) • Placed in the top 20 in seven events • Second on the team with a stroke average of 72.72 over 25 rounds • Finished 12 rounds at or under par • Shot a career-low 65 in the second round of the Little Rock
Invitational (Oct. 19)
2019-20
• Played all 17 rounds in all 6 tournaments, recording the third-lowest average round on the team (73.88) • Placed 18th at the Jim Rivers Intercollegiate after carding a 217 (7571-71) • Recorded under-par rounds at the All-American Intercollegiate (-2, 70) and Tiger Invitational (-2, 70)
Junior College
• Played the past two years for coach Richard Morgan at Calhoun
Community College • Ranked No. 18 in the NJCAA rankings • Has won five events on the junior college level, including the
Trojan Invitational, the Snead State Invitational, the Wallace State
Invitational, the Northeast Invitational and the District Tournament
(scoring average of 68.7) • Named second team Ping All-American in 2018 and first team freshman Ping All-American in 2018 • Named to the 2018 NJCAA all-District IV team • Named 2018 NJCAA honorable mention all-American • Finished third at the 2018 Spirit of America • Won the 2018 Alabama State Match Play • Finished ninth at the 2018 Chattanooga Choo Choo
High School
• Lettered two years for coaches Jason Leblanc and Steve Meek at
Hartselle High School in Alabama • Helped lead the Tigers to the state runner-up title in 2016 • Lettered in basketball as a freshman and sophomore • Lettered in baseball as a freshman, sophomore and junior • Lettered in hockey as a senior • Helped lead the baseball program to the state title in 2016 • Helped lead the hockey team to the district title in 2017
Personal
lake juban
junior
Hallsville, Texas (Hallsville HS)
CAREER HONORS & AWARDS
• Competed in all 10 events as a sophomore • Registered a stroke average of 74.44 over 25 rounds • Shot a career-low 67 in the final round of the Jim Rivers
2019-20
• Recorded 14 rounds at 4 tournaments as a freshman • Finished the year with an average round of 75.36 • Best round was a 71 (-1) at the All-American Intercollegiate • Best finish was 30th at the same event after carding a 218 (71-75-72)
High SchooL
• Lettered for coach Mark Gorby at Hallsville High School for four years • 2-time all-district (sophomore, junior) • Named the district Player of the Year as a junior • Won the Lobo Invitational at Pinecrest Country Club as a sophomore and junior • Won the All Saints Invitational at Cascades Country Club as a junior • Won the Sulphur Springs Invitational at Sulphur Springs Country Club as a senior • Tied for sixth at the TJGT Old American Elite in 2017 • Tied for third at the Texas State Match Play Championship in 2017 • Tied for second at the Joyce Crane Junior Championship in 2017 • Tied for 16th at the Southern Junior Amateur held at Squire Creek Country Club in 2018 • Tied for eighth at the Lanny Watkins Junior Championships in 2018
blake blaser
senior
Edmond, Okla. (Edmond North HS)
CAREER HONORS & AWARDS
• Competed in six events as a junior • Registered a stroke average of 78.21 over 14 rounds • Shot a season-low 74 three times during the season
2019-20
• Competed at five tournaments as a sophomore • Finished the year with a 75.43 scoring average in 14 competitive rounds • Shot a season-low 71 in the final day of the Jim Rivers Intercollegiate • Placed a season-best 47th at the same event.
2018-19
• Competed in nine tournaments during his freshman season • Recorded a 75.28 scoring average in 25 competitive rounds • Shot a low round of 68 in the third round of the Lake Charles Toyota
Invitational • Recorded a one-under-par 71 in the opening round of the 2019
C-USA Championships (tied for 25th at the event) • Tied for fourth at the I-20 Showdown vs. ULM with a even-par 144 over 36 holes
High School
• Lettered for coach Brock Van Cleave at Edmond North High School in
Oklahoma • 3-time state champion • Named all-state • Named an Oklahoma Academic Scholar • Won the 2018 Oklahoma Regional Tournament • Won the 2016 and 2017 Lake Hefner Challenge • Finished fourth in the Oklahoma 6A State Tournament in 2018
Personal
• Son of Kyle and Krista Blaser • Has two brothers, Chase and Carson • Born Sept. 10, 1999 in Oklahoma City, Okla.
james swash
senior
Stockton On Tees, England (Egglescliffe Comprehensive)
CAREER HONORS & AWARDS
CoSIDA Academic All-District (2021) C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll (2019, 2020, 2021) GCAA All-American Scholar (2020-21) C-USA Freshman of the Year (2019) Second Team All-Louisiana (2019) 2020-21
• Competed in all 10 events as a junior • Registered a stroke average of 74.71 over 24 rounds • Shot a season-low 68 in the first round of the Linger Longer
Invitational (March 12) • Finished in the top 15 twice at the Jim Rivers Intercollegiate (-1, t-11th) and at the LaTour Intercollegiate (+3, t-15th) • Recorded eight rounds at or under par
2019-20
• Recorded the second-best scoring average on the team (73.12) over the course of 17 rounds at 6 tournaments • Placed 8th after carding 213 (69-74-70) at the Jim Rivers
Intercollegiate to open the season • Recorded another top-20 individual performance with a 271 (70-7275) at the Bearcat Invitational
2018-19
• Named the Conference USA Freshman of the Year, only the second
Bulldog to ever be named league FOY (Jack Lempke: WAC, 2011) • Named second team all-state by the Louisiana Sports Writers
Association • Competed in 11 events as a true freshman, playing 31 competitive rounds • Recorded a 73.45 scoring average, the lowest ever by a LA Tech freshman • Opened his collegiate career with a three-under-par 68 at the
Louisville Cardinal Challenge • Shot a three-under-par 69 in the second round of the I-20 Showdown vs. ULM • Shot a three-under-par 69 in the final round of the Clemson
Invitational • Finished second at the ULM Showdown • Finished 17th at the USF Invitational • Finished 18th at the ULL Classic ...Posted 11 rounds of even par or better • Was Tech's top finisher in six events
High School
• Attended Egglescliffe Comprehensive • Finished third at the 2018 NYSO Championships • Tied for 12th at the 2018 Welsh Youths Amateur Championships • Tied for 16th at the 2018 North of England Youths Championships • Finished as the runner up at the 2017 Yorkshire Boys • Finished tied for 14th at the 2017 British Boys qualifying rounds • Finished 21st in the 2017 Mcevoy Trophy competition • Captained the 2017 National County Champions with Yorkshire
Personal
• Full name is James Ryan Swash • Son of Craig and Annette Swash • Has one sister, Nicola • Born Sept. 2, 1999 in MIddlesbrough, England
j.c. wigglesworth
senior
McKinney, Texas (McKinney Boyd HS)
CAREER HONORS & AWARDS
• Competed in one event at the Jim Rivers Intercollegiate • Registered a stroke average of 78.00 over three rounds • Had a season-low 74 in the final round of the Jim Rivers
Intercollegiate (9/15)
2019-20
• Competed at the Jim Rivers Intercollegiate in a COVID-19 shortened season • Recorded a 79.33 scoring average and placed 79th at the seasonopening event
2018-19
• Competed in three events during the season, playing seven competitive rounds • Recorded a 78.79 scoring average • His best round was a 73 in the second round of the Jim Rivers
Intercollegiate
High School
• Lettered for coach Jerry Crumpton at McKinney Boyd High School • Named Class 6A all-district and all-region as a senior • Was a Class 6A state qualifier • Recorded a top 20 finish at the Bart Granger Memorial at Pecan Valley
Golf Course, the largest high school event in the United States • Finished 9th out of 78 golfers at the Legends Texas Junior Lanny
Wadkins at Gentle Creek CC in Prosper, Texas • Tied for 20th (out of 108) at the AJGA Natural Resources Open in Ashland, Kentucky • Finished 18th (out of 78) at the AJCA EZ-GO Vaughn Taylor at
Augusta, Georgia • Competed at the Texas High School 6A Texarkana Invitational, recording 10 birdies in 36 holes on day one to finish 8th out of 100 • Defeated No. 1 seed JJ Pierce 2 & 1 on the second day of match play
Personal
• Full name is John Carter Wigglesworth • Son of David and Andrea Wigglesworth • Has two sisters, Mary Kate and Claire • Born April 27, 2000 in Louisville, Ky.
