Huskers Add Six Golfers for 2015-16

Nebraska Men’s Golf Head Coach Bill Spangler announced the addition of six golfers to the roster for next season on Friday.

“It is rare that we add so many players to a recruiting class, but we are losing five seniors with a lot of experience,” Spangler said. “Each young man in this class has an opportunity to compete right away.”

Michael Colgate – Saratosa, Fla. (Nebraska-Kearney/Saratosa)
Colgate comes to Nebraska after playing at Nebraska-Kearney for two years. Colgate, a Saratosa, Fla., native, compiled a 74.52 stroke average in 25 rounds during the 2013-14 season with the Lopers. He captured the Division II Midwest/Central Regional title with a score of 212, highlighted by a second-round 69. Colgate tied for 19th at the Division II Championships after shooting 222. In 2012-13, Colgate earned a 75.06 stroke average in 18 rounds. He also competed at the 2012 U.S. Amateur and 2011 U.S. Junior Amateur, while tying for 17th at a 2012 U.S. Open Local Qualifier and tying for eighth at the 2012 Saratosa City Championship.

Spangler on Colgate: “He gives us instant experience at the national level with success.”

Jace Guthmiller – Yankton, S.D. (Yankton)
Guthmiller is finishing up his career in Yankton, S.D., before he first competes for the Huskers next season. In October, Guthmiller finished ninth at the SDHSAA Class AA Boys Golf Championships after carding rounds of 79 and 74 at Cattail Crossing Golf Course in Watertown, S.D. In September, he captured the Yankton Boys Invitational title on the third playoff hole at Hillcrest Golf Course. During the summer, Guthmiller participated in U.S. Open Local Qualifying, where he posted a pair of 75s to finish seventh.

Spangler on Guthmiller: “He is a big kid who hits it far and has shown the ability to go low.”

Dylan McCabe – Sioux City, Iowa (Bishop Heelan)
McCabe is a proven winner from Bishop Heelan in Sioux City, Iowa. McCabe received 2014 Sioux City Journal Siouxland Play-of-the-Year honors after becoming the youngest player to win the Tri-State Masters in May at the age of 16. Before 2014, he became the youngest winner of the Green Valley Club Championship. McCabe also competed in the U.S. Junior Amateur over the summer, where he qualified for the match play portion.

Spangler on McCabe: “He has excelled on the national stage and has a variety of shots in his arsenal.”

Joel Sneed – Leland, Mich. (Leland)
Sneed brings a wealth of experience to the NU program from Leland High School in Michigan. He won the Division 4 State Finals with a score of 147 at Bedford Valley in June. In May, Sneed won the Regional 16 title at Grand Traverse Resort with a score of 68. He also competed at the PGA Junior Series at Westbrook, where he carded rounds of 75, 76 and 74 to finish ninth.

Spangler on Sneed: “He is dedicated and is a grinder. He brings national experience to our program.”

Sean Song – Omaha, Neb. (Burke)
Song has been one of the top junior golfers in Nebraska over the last couple years and signs with the Huskers as he heads into his final season at Omaha Burke. In May, he tied for 12th at the Class A State Championship with a 36-hole score of 149 at Holmes Golf Course. In 2013 at Pioneers Golf Course, Song tied for 25th at 155. As a freshman, he tied for 15th at 154 at Highlands Golf Course. Over the summer, the Omaha, Neb., native tied for 11th at the Nebraska Junior Amateur at Beatrice Country Club. He tied for 52nd at the Nebraska Amateur and advanced to the match play portion of the Nebraska Match Play Championship at the Country Club of Lincoln after a 75 in the stroke play qualifier.

Spangler on Song: “He has a terrific golf swing and is a hard worker who will only get better with experience.”

Jackson Wendling – Effingham, Ill. (Effingham)
Wendling joins the Huskers from Effingham High School in Illinois, where he was a three-time All-Apollo Conference team member. On the national level, Wendling earned HP All-America status for the American Junior Golf Association for his work on and off the course. He holds several school records at Effingham, including single-season scoring average, career scoring average and most tournaments won. Wendling won the Windsor Invitational, the Taylorville Invitational and two regional titles individually.

Spangler on Wendling: “He has a ton of national tournament experience. He brings great swing mechanics and an excellent work ethic, and will be a great teammate.”