Golf Inks Two During Early Signing Period
11/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Nov. 10, 2011
HOUSTON - Vincent Martino and Blair Hamilton became the newest members of the University of Houston golf program after recently signing National Letters of Intent, head coach Jonathan Dismuke announced Thursday afternoon.
Both players will join the Cougars as freshmen in 2012-13 and have four years of eligibility.
"I am extremely excited about both of these players and what they can bring to the program. We have two extremely talented players that can compete at the Division I level from the moment they step on campus, and that's important for the development of our program," Dismuke said. "We have increased our depth and talent level in a short amount of time."
BLAIR HAMILTON
Hamilton comes to the Houston program out of Burlington, Ontario, Canada. He already has established himself as one of his nation's premier young talents and was named to the Team Canada Development Squad earlier this month.
As a junior in 2010-11, he finished second at the Graham Cooke Invitational in late August and placed sixth at the Investors Group Junior Spring Classic - Boys in late May with a score of 223.
One year prior, Hamilton earned multiple top-10 finishes and helped Canada regain the Stephen Ames Cup, an annual event between Team Canada and Trinidad and Tobago. Hamilton also fired a final-round 66 at the CJGA Nike Golf Junior Series event at Peninsula Lakes Golf Club to top the field.
At 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, Hamilton impressed coaches with his physical abilities and his confidence in his game.
"When you look at Blair, his physical abilities stand out. He has unbelievable hand-eye coordination and strikes the ball very well," Dismuke said. "Blair is a very powerful, young man with a tremendous amount of self-confidence and believes he is going to be a great player."
VINCENT MARTINO
Martino joins the Cougars after an award-winning career at Southlake Carroll High. As a junior, he finished sixth on the individual leaderboard at the UIL State Tournament and helped lead the Dragons to a second-place team finish.
For his impressive efforts, he was honored as a Rolex All-America Honorable Mention, given to the top 48 players in the nation.
"Vince is a tremendous ball-striker and recently had one of the best summers of anyone in the country," Dismuke said. "He stood out to me early in the recruiting process."
He continued his stellar play during the summer, winning three championships at the AJGA Signsation Signs event, at the HP Byron Nielson Junior Championship, at the TJGT Invitational TPC Four Seasons and at the TJGT Bridlewood Championship.
As a sophomore, he fired a final-round 73 to medal at the Preseason Junior at Brookhaven. At that event, he drained three birdies on the back nine, including back-to-back on No. 15 and No. 16 to clinch the title.
With his steady play, Martino has risen to the No. 2 player in the state by GolfWeek and the AJGA Polo Junior Rankings. He also stood as the No. 19 recruit nationally for the Class of 2012 by the AJGA Polo Junior Rankings and came in at No. 29 in that category by GolfWeek.
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON GOLF SIGNEES
Player Ht. Wt. Cl.-Exp. Hometown-High SchoolBlair Hamilton 6-2 180 Fr.-HS Burlington, Ontario, Canada-Vincent Martino 5-10 200 Fr.-HS Southlake, Texas-Southlake Carroll
BLAIR HAMILTON
5-10 • 175 • Freshman-HS
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
ABOUT BLAIR HAMILTON
Physically gifted young player who will make an immediate contribution to the Cougars... Possesses impressive hand-eye coordination and strikes the ball well... Impressed coaching staff with his self-confidence.
PRE-HOUSTON
Named to the Development Squad by Golf Canada in the summer... Did not attend school during the 2011-12 season. Senior (2010-11): Finished second at the Graham Cooke Invitational with a 67 in late August... Tied for ninth at the Investors Group Junior Boys' Championship in mid-July... Placed sixth at the Investors Group Junior Spring Classic - Boys in late May with a score of 223... Finished 15th at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship and tied for 11th at the CN Future Links Ontario Championship. Junior (2009-10): Finished fifth at the CN Future Links Ontario Championship... Tied for eighth at the Investors Group Junior Championship... Placed fourth at the Ontario Summer Games, thanks to a final round 69... Finished 2-up over Trinidad and Tobago's Jessel Mohammed to help Canada regain the Stephen Ames Cup ... Fired a final-round 66 to top the field at the CJGA Nike Golf Junior Series event at Peninsula Lakes Golf Club.
PERSONAL
Born Oct. 12, 1993.
VINCENT MARTINO
5-10 • 200 • Freshman-HS
Southlake, Texas-Southlake Carroll
ABOUT VINCENT MARTINO
Multi-sport star in high school who only recently committed full-time to golf... Enjoyed a tremendously successful summer, winning three events... Ranked as the No. 2 high school player in the state of Texas... Will challenge for a spot in the Cougars' starting lineup immediately.
SOUTHLAKE CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL
Will be a four-year letterwinner for head coach Matt Glenn. Junior (2010-11): Named a Rolex All-America Honorable Mention and recognized as one of the top 48 high school golfers in the nation... Finished in a tie for sixth at the UIL State Tournament and helped lead the Dragons to a second-place team finish at that event... Captured the title at the AJGA Signsation Signs event in The Woodlands during the summer... Finished at even-par 213 to win the HP Byron Nelson Junior Championship in late June.... Won titles at the TJGT Invitational TPC Four Seasons with a first-round 68... Earned medalist honors at the TJGT Bridlewood Championship... Added top-10 finishes at the AJGA Elbit Systems of America and the AJGA Corsemax Philadelphia Runner. Sophomore (2009-10): Posted a final-round 73 to medal at the Preseason Junior at Brookhaven... Drained three birdies on the back nine, including back-to-back on No. 15 and No. 16, to clinch the title.
PERSONAL
Born March 29, 1994.