PHOENIX (July 9, 2014) – Three of golf’s top amateurs have turned pro and signed agreements to play PING equipment, PING Chairman & CEO John A. Solheim announced today. All were named to the prestigious PING All-American teams at least once as collegians.
Signing endorsement deals were Greg Eason, a seven-time winner at the University of Central Florida; Brandon Hagy, a four-time winner at the University of California, and Trey Mullinax, a key player in back-to-back national championships at the University of Alabama.
“These young men have established themselves at top-tier colleges and in elite amateur competitions and we’re excited they will continue to play PING and represent our brand in the professional ranks,” Solheim said. “We’ll do our part to support them with golf’s finest custom-fit equipment, and our PING representatives on tour will use their expertise to help these players succeed. It’s going to be fun following their progress in the years ahead.”
As part of the multi-year agreements, each golfer will wear a PING hat, carry a PING staff bag and play a minimum of 11 PING clubs, including a PING driver and PING putter. Financial terms and the length of the agreements were not disclosed.
Eason, from Leicester City, England, was the world’s #3-ranked amateur before turning pro and was a 1st team PING All-American the past two seasons. He has already embarked on a pro career, playing this season as a fully exempt member of the PGA Tour Canada. He plays an i25 driver, G25 3-wood, Rapture driving iron, S55 irons, Tour Gorge wedges, and a Scottsdale TR Anser 2 putter.
A California native, Hagy was a 1st team PING All-American as a senior and was named to the 2nd team as a junior. He won this year’s Byron Nelson Award for his golf accomplishments and his numerous charitable endeavors. He was also the Pac 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year. Hagy played in the 2014 Palmer Cup and he recently made his debut on the Web.com Tour, making the cut at the Novia Scotia Open. In Hagy’s bag are an i25 driver, G25 3-wood, S55 irons, Tour Gorge wedges, and a Scottsdale TR Anser 2 putter.
Mullinax, a 2nd team PING All-American this past season, relied on a Karsten 1959 B60 putter to make the clinching putt for Alabama at the 2014 NCAA Championships. He was 1st team All-SEC, he competed in the 2014 Palmer Cup, and was a two-time winner for the Crimson Tide. In addition to the Karsten putter, he plays an i20 driver, G20 3-wood, Anser 17-degree hybrid, S55 irons, and Anser wedges. Mullinax hails from Birmingham, Ala.
Chance Cozby, Vice President of Sports Development at PING, said the company’s scouting system continues to identify and nurture top-level talent at an early age. “We’ve watched these young men come up through junior golf and college, and we’re impressed with their talent and, just as importantly, their character. We’re confident they have the skills and the maturity to make their biggest jump yet,” Cozby said. “We’re pleased to welcome them to the PING Worldwide Tour Staff.”
PING, i20, i25, G20, G25, Karsten, S55, Gorge, Rapture, Scottsdale, TR, and Anser are registered and unregistered trademarks of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
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Pete Samuels (602) 687-5487
