More All America talents choose to launch their tour careers with Nike Golf
BEAVERTON, Ore. (July 17, 2012) – Nike Golf continues to expand its strong stable of athletes with the addition of another five collegiate All America standouts to its Tour staff.
Representing the Swoosh in exclusive multi-year agreements are Lee Bedford, Hunter Hamrick, Daniel Miernicki, JJ Spaun and Eugene Wong. This announcement comes on the heels of Nike Golf’s recent signings of Cheyenne Woods and Dylan Frittelli. In less than two months, Nike Golf has signed a total of seven new athletes from the best of the NCAA arena to its staff.
Choosing Nike for its brand passion and non-stop innovation, these young athletes have stellar collegiate golf resumes, each having been named an All American on multiple occasions. Combined, these athletes have won 24 times during their collegiate careers; Hamrick and Spaun each won five times, Bedford and Miernicki each won four times, and Wong and Frittelli had three wins apiece.
“We are thrilled to add a group of young, talented athletes to our Nike Golf team,” said Mark Thaxton, Global Director of Sports Marketing Operations for Nike Golf. “We have attained some of the finest collegiate players chasing the professional dream. The future is bright for these rising stars and we’re eager to work with them to ensure that they are equipped with the best tools for success.”
Lee Bedford- A talented athlete from Wake Forest University, Bedford finished runner-up at the ACC Championships in 2012 and finished with a team-leading 72.5 scoring average. This North Carolina native earned All-ACC honors for the third straight season, becoming just the 10th Demon Deacon to earn this award three times.
Hunter Hamrick- A standout player from the University of Alabama, Hunter Hamrick’s leadership and success earned him the title of team captain in the 2011-12 season. He was also a first-team All-SEC and honorable mention All-America honors as a sophomore in 2009-10. Hamrick won an NCAA East Regional and the Western Refining College All-American Golf Classic. This Alabama native recently competed at the 2012 US Open and finished T46 with his Nike arsenal.
Daniel Miernicki – A first team All-American from the University of Oregon, Miernicki was an integral part of his team’s success throughout his college career. He earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors in 2010 and was named to the US squad for the 2012 Palmer Cup. Miernicki made his professional debut through an exemption at the 2012 Traveler’s Championship on the PGA Tour.
JJ Spaun – The second team All American from San Diego State University is a three-time all-league honoree (2010-2011-2012). He currently boasts a World Amateur Golf rating of No. 13 and finished the 2011-12 collegiate season with a team-low 70.81 stroke average. He placed in the individual top 10 nine times as a senior and 24 occasions overall during his four-year college career.
Eugene Wong – A two-time first team All American from the University of Oregon, Wong helped the Ducks to their second consecutive victory at The Prestige at PGA West, placing second overall. He set a tournament record at the Alister MacKenzie Invitational with an 18-under (195) finish and won the 2010 Jack Nicklaus Award as the top golfer in NCAA Division I. Wong will make his professional debut at the 2012 Canadian Tour Players’ Cup in Winnipeg and is in the field for the PGA Tour’s RBC Canadian Open.
Contact:
Beth Gast – Nike Golf Gretchen Wilhelm – Nike Golf
503.532.8852 503.532.6236
beth.gast@nike.com gretchen.wilhelm@nike.com
