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Hrnciar adds DFW star to Aggie golf
LAWTON, Oklahoma (April 18) – Although there are still a few weeks until the 2007-2008 collegiate athletic season comes to a close, Cameron head men’s golf coach Jerry Hrnciar is already getting ready for the 2008-2009 season. The nationally ranked Aggie men’s golf team is just days away from competing in the annual Lone Star Conference Championship tournament, and today Coach Hrnciar announced the signing of top recruit Garrett Smith. Smith, a senior at Midlothian (Texas) High School, will join the Aggies next season.
“Garret is a (NCAA) Division I caliber prospect with a very solid swing,” Coach Hrnciar said. “He is very long and accurate off the tee, and he is a good short game player. He is a protégé of one of my former players who is a golf swing teacher, and he comes highly recommended. I think he is the type of player that can be a starter for us from his freshman year on, which is something I normally don’t count on.”
Smith has been highly recruited and fielded offers from several Division I schools before choosing to play for Coach Hrnciar. During his senior season Smith compiled a 73.8 stroke average, after recording a 74 stroke average throughout his junior season.
For the last three seasons Smith won the individual District Championship, and this year he led the MHS Trojans to the first team District Championship in school history. He was also named the Midlothian High School Golf Most Valuable Player (MVP) each of his four years at MHS, and was voted to the All-District First Team after each of the last three years.
“I’m very excited to bring him on board,” Coach Hrnciar said. “We have big shoes to fill for when Cane (Shumaker) completes his career at Cameron, and Garrett will help us do that. He is a good academic student and is one of the top players in the entire Dallas area.”
In his junior season Smith recorded eight top-seven finishes, including five top-three finishes and two first-place victories. Last season he finished with five top-seven finishes highlighted by four top-three finishes and one first-place victory.
Smith is very gifted in the classroom as well. He was named to the Academic All-District team each of the last three years, and was named Academic All-Area and Academic All-State after his junior year.
Smith also competes on the Legends Junior Tour where he recorded three top-ten finishes this season.
“I feel fortunate to have someone of his ability sign with our squad,” Coach Hrnciar said. “I think he is going to bring a good work ethic to the team. He is a hard worker with a huge upside. I could see him start from his freshman year on, and he has the potential to be one of five players on the National All-Freshman team.”
As mentioned previously, Smith will join the Aggie squad as a freshman on the 2008-2009 squad. He will be a business major at Cameron University.
The Cameron men’s golf team is currently on their way to Thackerville, Oklahoma, to take part in the LSC Championships. The event will be played Monday (April 21) and Tuesday (April 22) at the WinStar Golf Club.
The Aggies are currently ranked #23 in the nation by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) and #29 in the nation by GolfStat.com. Cameron has had a very strong season and is scheduled to advance to the NCAA Division II South Central Super Regionals tournament in Austin, Texas, on May 5-7.
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