ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - UCF head men's golf coach Bryce Wallor has announced the signing of four new Knights to National Letters of Intent. All four members of UCF's 2016 signing class have area ties.
Tommy Cao is originally from China but currently attends Lake Mary Prep. Jake Grula is a Winter Park resident and attends Lake Highland Prep. Colin Kresl is from Lakeland and attends Families of Faith Christian Academy. Maitland's Christophe Stutts is currently a student at Winter Park High School. All four are accomplished junior-circuit players, both locally and nationally.
"Looking at the future of our program is an extremely exciting process," Wallor said. "Having the opportunity to add four players with local ties should go a long way toward strengthening the foundation of our program. We are very excited to have, Tommy, Jake, Colin and Christophe join the UCF family next fall. Our coaching staff feels that we are very fortunate to have attracted four very accomplished junior golfers with strong academic backgrounds, who will help to shape the future of our golf team. During this recruiting process, we met with each of these student-athletes on campus. But we also had the opportunity to sit face-to-face with their families as well. We feel lucky to have these great young men with great support systems behind them to help strengthen our golf program."
The following is a more in-depth look at each of the new Knights:
Tommy Cao
Hometown: Lake Mary, Florida/China
High School: Lake Mary Prep
• No. 8-ranked player in the State of Florida for the 2017 freshman class
• Winner of the 33rd Annual Scott Robertson Memorial
• Winner of the Florida Junior Tour event at Country Club of Winter Haven
• Finished third at the AJGA Sunriver Junior open
• Finished fifth at the 2015 Golfweek Invitational
• Finished sixth at the AJGA Sergio Garcia Foundation Junior Championship
Jake Grula
Hometown: Winter Park, Florida
High School: Lake Highland Prep
• No. 13-ranked player in the State of Florida for the 2017 freshman class
• Finished fifth at the Florida Junior Tour event at Adena Golf & Country Club
• Finished fifth at the AJGA Jim Bell Memorial Junior
• Finished fifth at the 67th Press Thornton Future Masters
• Finished sixth at the Florida Junior Tour event at Sugar Mill Country Club
• Finished eight at the Florida Junior Tour event at Stone Creek
Colin Kresl
Hometown: Lakeland, Florida
High School: Families of Faith Christian Academy
• No. 28-ranked player in the State of Florida for the 2017 class
• Winner of the CFJGT Junior Citrus Open
• Finished fourth at the AJGA – Eagles Dream Golf Academy Junior open
• Finished Third at the Florida Junior Tour – Bleak Bear GC
• Finished fourth at the Florida Junior Tour –Longboat Key Club
• Finished fifth at the Golfweek Junior Tour at Rio Pinar
Christophe Stutts
Hometown: Maitland, Florida
High School: Winter Park High School
• No. 9-ranked player in the State of Florida for the 2017 freshman class
• Finished third at the Titan Invitational at Hammock Beach Resort
• Finished fourth at the AJGA Golf Pride / David Leadbetter Junior Classic
• Finished eighth at the AJGA TaylorMade-Adidas Golf Junior at Innisbrook
• Finished tenth at the AJGA Jim Bell Memorial Junior
• Finished sixteenth at the AJGA Puerto Rico Junior Open