Nov. 24, 2009
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Men’s golf head coach Jim Kubinski has announced the signing of three student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to attend the University of Notre Dame and continue their golf careers at the collegiate level, beginning in the fall of 2010. The three signees include Niall Platt of Santa Barbara, Calif., Andrew Lane of Fairport, N.Y. and Andrew Carreon of San Antonio, Texas.
“We are thoroughly excited about our 2010 signing class,” said Irish head coach Jim Kubinski. “All three players have competed successfully at the highest levels of junior golf and show great potential to transition successfully to the college game. We feel all three can have an immediate impact, given continued hard work and a competitive summer schedule. This year’s class is one with a clear national flavor, which shows not only the reach our program has developed but the attractiveness of our great university.”
Platt, who currently attends the Laguna Blanca School in Santa Barbara, Calif., is a decorated player on the junior circuit as well as a dominant scholastic player. A 2009 American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) HP Scholastic All-American, Platt captains his high school squad and has gone undefeated in his first three years of league play as well as earning three consecutive league MVP honors. He has also competed in various amateur events around California. In March of 2009, Platt won the Lompoc City Championship at La Purisima. He also tied for fifth at the California State Fair Amateur with an eight-under par 208 (68-69-71) in September of 2009.
“Niall is a very, very impressive player in that he’s so well rounded,” said Kubinski. “He has a solid golf swing, excellent management skills and a great short game. I’m also excited about the number of sub 70 rounds he has posted against strong competition. I think Niall is an example of a high-ceiling player and one who could be a four-year player for us.”
For the past four seasons, Platt has competed in various AJGA and Future Collegians World Tour (FCWT) tournaments. He has had four top-5 finishes on the AJGA tour, highlighted by a second place showing at the AGJA Junior at Wenatchee in August, where he fired a two-under par 214 (70-71-73). On the FCWT, Platt has finished in the top-10 on six occasions, including three top-five finishes.
Platt also competes in the SCPGA Toyota Tour Cup. In his most recent 2009 events on the circuit, Platt claimed first place at Cypress Ridge in October by shooting an even par 144 (73-71) and placed second at Rancho San Marcos in November after carding a three-under par 139 (69-70).
Lane, who currently attends McQuaid Jesuit, carries an impressive golf resume on the junior and scholastic levels and he was named the top recruit in the state of New York by Golfweek in 2008. He has also had success on the AJGA and FCWT circuits. Some of his AJGA highlights include a fourth-place showing at the Fidelity Investments Classic in Mattapoisett, Mass. in July of 2008 and tying for 10th at the Northeast Open at the Richter Park Golf Course, where he turned in a five-over par 221 (72-74-75). All told, Lane boasts five top-20 finishes, three top-10 marks and one top-5 showing in AJGA play.
“Andrew is a multi-sport recruit, also serving as a captain on his high school hockey team,” noted Kubinski. “Similar to Niall, Andrew is extremely well rounded. I like his golf swing and rhythm. He’s also an excellent putter, making more than his share of those intermediate length putts. It’s around the greens that Andrew’s great competitiveness is best showcased.”
Andrew Lane
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Lane’s other impressive results include a tie for first at the Pepsi Little Peoples Golf Championship at the Spring Lake CC in Quincy, Ill. in June of 2008. He fired a minus-one 143 (69-74) to finish atop the 117-player field. In June of 2009, he tied for 17th at the Southern Jr. Championship, which was played at Reynolds Landing in Greensboro, Ga. He turned in a five-over par 221 (75-77-69) at the three-round event.
In high school action, Lane tied for third at the New York State High School Golf Championship as a junior in May of 2009, shooting a two-over par 146. He helped McQuaid Jesuit to the 2008 Section 5 State title and he was named a Section 5 All-Greater Rochester honoree in 2008 and 2009 after finishing as the runner-up at the Individual Section 5 Golf Championships. He was also an all-State selection in 2009.
“We’ve made it a priority to attract players with great competitive fire and Andrew fits that mold,” added Kubinski. “He is a proven high finisher. Andrew is also someone who I feel will make significant contributions throughout his four years.
Carreon, who currently attends Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio, Texas, closes out Notre Dame’s class of 2014 and like Platt and Lane, Carreon is an accomplished player on the junior golf circuit and at the high school level. Currently ranked 76th by Golfweek, Carreon is a two-time San Antonio City Junior Champion. In 2009, he fired three consecutive under par rounds (70-68-70) to claim medalist honors. He also claimed first place at the UIL District Tournament the past two years and finished seventh overall at the Texas UIL State tournament. At one of the largest scholastic tournaments in the country, the Bart Granger Memorial, Carreon finished sixth in 2009 after carding a 211 (69-71-71).
Andrew Carreon
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“We had originally planned on finalizing our class with Niall and Andrew Lane but kept coming back to Andrew Carreon,” Kubinski revealed. “There were several factors that certainly set him apart. His golf record is very solid and he has faced strong competition both nationally and at home in Texas. His multiple top 15’s on the AJGA the last two summers, in limited opportunities, shows his ability to be successful against that strong national competition. Andrew, like our other 2010 signees, shows a consistent all around game,” Kubinski said. “Given his talent and work ethic, I anticipate great success for Andrew. We’re fortunate to include him in what I feel will be a highly successful class.”
On the AJGA circuit, Carreon has totaled five top-20 finishes, including four in the top-15. His best AJGA finish was a ninth place showing at the Valero Junior Shootout at the Dominion Country Cub in 2008. In 2009, he turned in top-15 showings at the Laredo Energy (played at the Traditions Golf Club) and the Emerson (played at Maderas Golf Club) AJGA events.
“Even with differing backgrounds, our incoming group has a number of things in common,” surmized Kubinski. “First and foremost, it’s a group with strong character. I’ve been impressed by each of them as young men. Of course, each is a very strong student. Their dedication to academics, achievement on and off the course and commitment to Notre Dame was evident from the beginning. All were significant factors in our pursuit of them.”
Kubinski and the 2009-10 Notre Dame men’s golf team open their 2010 spring season on Feb. 6 in Scottsdale, Ariz. as the Irish play in an Alumni Match weekend event at the Mirabel Golf Club.
— ND —