KU golf adds five new faces for 2018-19
LAWRENCE, Kan. – While amidst a strong 2017-18 season for the Kansas men’s golf team, head coach Jamie Bermel is already looking ahead to the 2018-19 season with five new additions for the upcoming season.
“We’re excited to get five kids in this class,” said Bermel. “All five are very athletic guys and have a great feel for the game.”
Shaun Campbell will be coming to Lawrence all the way from Tauranga, New Zealand, making him the third New Zealand-native (joining Charlie and Harry Hillier) to sport the crimson and blue in the last four years. Campbell attended Aquinas College in New Zealand and has made numerous appearances in New Zealand amateur competitions.
“Shaun is a big, strong kid,” described Bermel. “He has the ability to hit the ball very hard and has a lot of playing experience to back it up.”
Though shorter than Campbell’s trip to Lawrence, Caden Weber will be making the 1,200-mile trip to campus from Peoria, Arizona, where he had three finishes in top-15 in Junior Golf Association of Arizona events in 2017.
“Caden is a big kid with a lot of club-head speed,” said Bermel.
The remaining trio of new Jayhawks will be coming to KU from various parts of the Sunflower state. One of the new additions is Grant Herrenbruck, a native of Salina, Kansas. The dual-sport athlete— and state champion— in golf and basketball at Sacred Heart High School was named Kansas Golf Association’s Junior Player of the Year in 2016.
“Grant brings a lot of tournament experience and is very athletic,” Bermel added.
The second in-state addition is Zach Sokolosky, who comes from Wichita, Kansas, and was another dual-sport in both golf (where he won a state championship) and basketball at Andover High School.
“Zach is a tough competitor and is still learning the game,” said Bermel. “He plays with a lot of confidence.”
Rounding out the trio of Kansans to be added to the team is Christian Ghilardi, who spent his high school years also as a two-sport athlete at Shawnee Mission Northwest.
“Christian is a kid with tremendous upside,” added Bermel. “He has a great spirit and is very competitive.”
The new members to the Jayhawk golf program will have the challenging task of filling the holes of current seniors Daniel Hudson and Daniel Sutton, who have been regulars in the Jayhawk lineup during their respective times at Kansas. Despite having big shoes to fill, Bermel believes the new additions are the right guys to do so.
“We have five golfers who are very excited about their opportunity,” explained Bermel. “I know they will upgrade our talent level on the team with their competitiveness on the golf course and in the classroom.”
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