UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Head coach Greg Nye announced that three talented recruits have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Penn State men’s golf roster for the 2012-13 season. JD Dornes (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township High School), Chris Houston (Gilford, N.H./Gilford Middle High School) and Geoff Vertales (Cromwell, Conn./ Xavier High School) will be eligible to compete for the Nittany Lions during the 2012 fall season.
After a breakout summer in 2011, which included t-5th, t-11th, t-22nd and t-30th showings in the American Junior Golf Association, Dornes established himself as a nationally relevant player. The Lancaster, Pa., native continued to build on his summer success by captaining his undefeated Manheim Township team to a state title with an impressive 70.0 scoring average in regular-season play. The senior has most recently been noted as a top-ranked player for the class of 2012 in the state of Pennsylvania. His athleticism as a multi-sport athlete, having played baseball for Manheim, is well represented in his golf game.
"JD is an exceptional long hitter, with a solid golf swing and outstanding touch," said Coach Nye. "He is a perfect fit for Penn State. If he can continue to build on his success from 2011 over the upcoming summer, he will compete for a spot in the starting lineup."
Houston, who comes to Penn State from Gilford, N.H., has experienced success on both a state and national level. The highly-recruited senior is the first golfer in New Hampshire High School golf history to win four consecutive state titles. On a national level, Houston has had numerous competitive experiences including appearances in the US Junior Amateur in 2009 and 2010. He has also experienced multiple top-five finishes in AJGA events, both including two runner-up finishes in 2010.
"Chris is a fierce competitor, with an outstanding work ethic and drive to improve," said Coach Nye. "We look for him to make an immediate impact with the Nittany Lions."
Vertales is the second Penn State signee who was highly recruited at the national level. The talented golfer displays a resume marked by consistency with seven top-20 finishes in the AJGA. The Cromwell, Conn., native’s highlights include a runner-up finish in the 2009 AJGA Northeast Open and an appearance at the 2011 US Junior Amateur.
"Geoff is a talented played with outstanding fundamentals that has a tremendous potential to improve and evolve into an exceptional collegiate player," Coach Nye. "He exemplifies many of the traits that embody that we are looking for in representing Penn State University and we look for him to compete for a spot in our starting five."
The Penn State men’s golf team will make their spring debut Feb. 10-11 at the Big Ten Match Play Championship in Bradenton, Fla.