Nov. 13, 2006

COLUMBIA, Mo. - - University of Missouri Men's Golf Coach Mark Leroux announced on Monday, that three golfers from the state of Missouri have singed National Letters of Intent (NLI) to join the Tigers in the fall of 2007. Michael Garden (St Albans, Mo.), Will Hogan (Ozark, Mo.) and Tyler Hillis (Poplar Bluff, Mo.) are all among the top 10-ranked golfers in Missouri and will be the newest additions to the Tiger squad.

"These three at the core of our future here at Mizzou," Leroux said. "As you can see when you look at their scores, all three are real good players and it is exciting to have a group like this coming in. It's also nice to have the in-state players staying within the state and coming to Missouri."

Garden qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur Championships last summer, finishing in 82nd place with a two-round total of 153 (76-77). He won ASU Junior Golf Classic in Dec. of 2005 and over the past year has recorded a pair of second place finishes in junior golf competition. He has placed in the top 10 in six of the 13 tournaments he played in over the past year.

"Michael has some great experience as he has played in numerous tournaments on the national level," Leroux said. "He is accustomed to playing against the type of competition he will face on the collegiate level and he has been successful playing in those types of fields."

Hogan won the Missouri Class 3 High School State Championships last May and, like Garden, qualified for last summer's U.S. Junior Amateur Championships. In the US Junior Amateur Qualifier, he opened with a 65 in the first round and finished first with a two-round total of 138. He was recently named the Missouri Junior Player of the Year.

"Will hits the ball a long way with a good golf swing," Leroux said. "He is big and strong and has great swing mechanics. When watching him, I was impressed with how competitive he was. He wants to win every time he is on the course."

Hillis finished in 20th place at the Bubba Conlee National Junior Tournament with rounds of 70, 75 and a final round 69. He also recorded a 13th place showing at the Houchens Industries Junior Open last summer and is ranked No. 9 among Missouri junior golfers.

"Tyler has the intangibles that I like to see in a golfer," Leroux said. "It's hard to describe, but when I watch him play, there is something in his demeanor that stands out. He is going to be a good addition to our team next fall."