Ferris State Men's & Women's Golf Inks Five During Fall Signing Period
Big Rapids, Mich. - Ferris State University men's and women's golf head coach Mike Mignano has announced the names of five student-athletes who have inked with the Bulldogs during the fall signing period.
The Bulldogs have added three golfers on the women's side in Isabella Flack (Mt. Prospect, Ill./Prospect), Sydney Murphy (Plymouth) and Destiny Lawson (Ocala, Fla./West Port) in addition to two men's signees in Josh Arbour (Grand Ledge) and Andrew Hammett (Bradenton, Fla./Bradenton Academy).
Flack was a 2014 All-Sectional Team member and a three-time all-conference honoree for Prospect High School. The individual medalist at the 2014 Rockford Invitational, she was a 2013 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Championship competitor and helped lead her team to the 2013 IHSA Team State Championship.
"Isabella has an infectious personality that will make her an excellent teammate and leader in our program," Mignano said. "She has made great strides in her golf game over the past two seasons, including career low rounds this past fall. We look forward to Isabella being a Bulldog next season."
Murphy, a two-time Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Division I First Team All-State selection, had four tournament wins in 2014 for Plymouth High School. The 2014 Western Women's Golf Junior Championship match-play flight winner made four MHSAA Division I State Championship appearances and placed ninth in 2013 along with 15th in 2014. Her play helped her team to a pair of first-place state team finishes along with a third place and eighth-place performance. She was also a Unified Sports Program Mentor.
"Sydney is highly regarded as one of the top players in Michigan and we look forward to her work ethic and leadership next year," said Mignano. "She has been part of a prestigious program at Plymouth HS, including back to back Team State Championships, which will be a tremendous addition to our program next season. Syd is a person of high character and has a big heart, including working with Special Olympics as a Unified Sports Program Mentor."
Lawson finished first overall at the 2014 Gainesville Junior Golf Tour Championship and was a first-team all-conference pick during her prep career at West Port High School in Ocala, Fla. She improved her nine hole scoring average by seven strokes over the past two years and won the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) District title in 2014. She was also a member of a squad that claimed a FHSAA Division II Team Academic Award.
"Destiny is one of the most athletic people I have ever met," Mignano said. "Having excelled in three other sports, Destiny is relatively new to competitive golf. She has a tremendous work ethic, as evidenced by her incredible improvement from sophomore to senior season (7 Strokes for 9 Holes). Destiny has a lot of potential and I look for her to continue to grow as a student-athlete and give a spark to our program."
On the men's side, Josh Arbour joins the FSU program following a prep career at Grand Ledge High School. As a prepster, he was a two-time all-conference honoree and placed second overall in 2014 at regionals. In addition, he went on to finish 32nd overall at the MHSAA State Finals and was a first-flight match play qualifier at the 2014 Lansing All-City Tournament.
"Josh will be an outstanding addition to our Men's Program next season," said Mignano. "He is an extremely athletic individual who has competed at a high level throughout high school and junior golf. Josh is a young man of great character and mental toughness.
"His outside experience in football and basketball will allow him to excel and grow in the college golf environment," he added. "Josh is also a very strong student and our Pharmacy program will be a perfect fit for his academic vigor. We look forward to Josh being a strong leader and contributing to our continued success in 2015."
Finally, Hammett is another Florida product who competed for Bradenton Academy. He claimed 2014 District Championship honors and is the school record holder for season scoring average and consecutive rounds under par. The two-time all-county team selection was the Greater Sarasota Junior Golf Association (GSJGA) Player of the Year and posted the GSJGA's lowest scoring average at 72.10 overall.
"Andrew will join the Bulldogs as one of the most prestigious recruits in program history," Mignano said. "Growing up in Georgia and Florida, he has been committed to competitive golf for many years. Andrew competed at a high level against some tough competition in the Sarasota area. He loves the team environment and will be a natural leader for us next season.
"Andrew is a young man of great passion and true love for the game of golf," he added. "We are excited to have him join our Bulldog Family next season."
The Ferris State men's and women's golf programs have a long standing history of success. The Bulldogs have currently qualified for the NCAA Tournament 12-straight years in men's golf while making 13 appearances in a row in women's golf. Mignano is currently in his eighth year directing both programs.