CCU

Men's Golf Signs One of Top Recruiting Classes In Nation

           

Men's Golf Signs One of Top Recruiting Classes In Nation

CONWAY, SC – Coastal Carolina's men's golf program has one of the top recruiting classes in the nation and highest rated in the history of the program, inking three to National Letters of Intent, head coach Allen Terrell announced today. Drew Ernst (Seneca, S.C./Seneca), David Dannelly (Easley, S.C./Easley) and Tripp McAllister (Lake City, S.C./The Carolina Academy) have signed to play for the Chanticleers for the 2007-08 school year.

"We are extremely excited about Drew, David, and Tripp's committment to CCU," Terrell said. "We feel each player has the ability to make an immediate impact on our program and help the team solidify themselves as a mainstay in the top 10. We are thrilled to sign such a highly-ranked class and excited each player is from our state. Thanks to our great faculty, administration, past players, and current team members, we are blessed to continue to attract top student athletes."

Ernst, ranked eighth in the state Boy's rankings currently and 23rd in the nation according to GolfWeek's Junior Boy's Ratings of the Class of 2007, was a 2006 Class 3A All-State selection and three-time Region 1 Player of the Year. He finished in the top 15 of three American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) tournaments this past summer, as well as placing sixth at the GolfWeek Top-100 event. He played for the victorious South Carolina squad in the 2006 matches versus Canada, his second straight season on the team, as well as playing in the 2005 Carolinas Versus Virginias matches. The Wendy's High School Heisman nominee this year from Seneca High School, Ernst is also a member of the Honor Roll, National Honor Society and Who's Who of American High School Students.

Dannelly was a 2005 All-State honoree after leading Easley to the Class 4A State Team Championship. A two-time All-Region selection, he was ranked second in the state in the Boy's Junior Rankings over the last year, as well as 24th nationally among the Class of 2007 by GolfWeek. The first-ever AJGA All-American to sign at Coastal, Dannelly finished in the top 10 of nine of 10 events this year, including four of five AJGA events. He posted individual wins at The Blade and The Joe Wyatt High School Invitational tournaments.

McAllister was the 2005-06 SCISA Individual State Champion and Class AA Player of the Year after leading his squad to their second consecutive state title. He was also a three-time All-State selection heading into his senior year, three-time Team MVP and runner-up individually at the 2005 State Championships. Currently ranked fifth among junior boys in South Carolina and 72nd in the nation by GolfWeek, he qualified for the U.S. Junior the last two summers, advancing to the match play portion in 2005. He also won the title at the 2005 George Holiday Memorial and finished in the top six in four of summer events in 2006. McAllister was also solid in the classroom, as he is a member of the National Honor Society and High Honor Roll.

The Chanticleers have now wrapped up the fall team portion of their 2006-07 schedule and will next play in the Florida Gator Invitational, Sat.-Sun., Feb. 10-11 in Gainesville, Fla. Individually, senior Dustin Johnson (Myrtle Beach, S.C./Dutch Fork), who leads the Big South in scoring average at 70.33, will next compete in the invitation-only Western Refining All-American Classic in El Paso, Texas, Mon.-Tue., Nov. 20-21.