Nov. 27, 2007
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Men's golf coach Grant Robbins' 2008 signing class includes five fresh faces to play for the Tigers next season. Jack Belote (Bolton HS/Bartlett, Tenn.), Kody Alexander (Liberty Tech HS/Humboldt, Tenn.), Carlson Cox (Volunteer HS/Church Hill, Tenn.), Ben Lange (Socttsdale CC/Phoenix, Ariz.), and Parker Rush (Faulkner State CC/Germantown, Tenn.) each signed National Letters of Intent to play golf for the University of Memphis.
Golfweek and NJGS.com consistently rank Belote among the top two players in Tennessee's class of 2008 and 82nd and 65th in their respective national rankings. He set a US Junior Golf Tour scoring record with a 17-under par 199 (68-66-65) at Windyke Country Club to win a USJGT event by 17 strokes and finished second in the US Junior Amateur qualifier with rounds of 68 and 70. Belote placed seventh at the Tennessee AAA State Championships this year, following a third place finish in 2005 and a runner-up performance the following year. He is a three-time high school regional champion and has finished in the top-25 in every AJGA event he's played, including two top-10 finishes.
"We are very excited to have Jack join our program," said Coach Robbins. "He is an exceptional player that knows how to win, but more importantly he is a wonderful person. He is a great student and he has an unbelievable work ethic. I don't know if I have ever seen anyone as committed as Jack is at his age. I look for him to have an instant impact on our team."
Kody Alexander, who was paired with Belote at this year's state championship tournament, is one of three Tennessee high school signees, all of which are ranked in Tennessee's top-10 by NJGS.com. Alexander finished in the top-10 twice at the Tennessee AAA State Championships, sixth this year and fifth during his junior season. An all-district selection in soccer, he was a two-time all-state golfer in high school.
"Kody may have the most potential of anyone that we have signed," said Robbins. "He is very athletic and hits the ball a long way. His short game is improving and he is learning how to manage his game. He is a very hard worker, and I look forward to working with him."
Carlson Cox currently is the sixth-ranked graduating golfer in Tennessee, according to NJGS.com. Also a top-10 finisher at Tennessee's AAA State Championships, Cox qualified for the 2006 and 2007 Optimist International Junior Championships and the 2007 Tennessee Men's State Open Championship, which he entered after winning the Amateur Regional Qualifier with a two-under par 70.
"Carlson is a very talented player who will be a welcome addition to our team," Robbins said. "He is extremely competitive and works hard to get the most out of each round. Like Kody, Carlson wasn't able to play a national junior schedule, so he has been under the radar, so to speak, but he loves to compete and has a chance to be a great college player."
Coach Robbins signed two JC transfers for 2008 who should bring additional collegiate experience. Ben Lange was a member of the 2007 Scottsdale Community College team that won a national championship and enters the spring as the Fighting Artichokes' number one golfer. He won the 2007 Phoenix Men's Amateur Championship by four shots with a four-round score of 15-under par. The 2004 Arizona Junior Golf Association Player of the Year, Lange turned in two top-10 finishes last spring and shot a 71-72 at the 2007 US Amateur qualifier.
"Ben has come a long way in a very short period of time," said Robbins. "He was an outstanding all-around athlete in high school and has only been competing in golf for a little over four years now. He has the ability to shoot low rounds and I think his best golf is definitely in front of him."
Parker Rush, a Germantown native, will return to Memphis after leading the Faulkner State team as a freshman this year. Rush is the son of former Tiger and current Memphis Country Club Director of Golf Tim Rush. Parker turned in three top-10 finishes with the Sun Chiefs, and he was an individual qualifier for the 2007 Junior College National Championship in Mesa, Ariz.
"I have been watching Parker for a long time and have been impressed by how much he has improved over the last couple of years," said Robbins. "He has obtained some very valuable experience on the junior college level and should add depth to our team next year."
Robbins led the Tigers to four top-10 finishes this fall and will open competition this spring at the Rice Intercollegiate in Houston, Texas on February 18.
