June 5, 2008

(San Francisco) - USF men's golf welcomes a five-member recruiting class set to compete for the dons in the 2008-09 season as announced today by head coach Dr. Gary Nelson. Ji Hwan Park (Fullerton, CA/Emerson Honors HS), Joey Toulon (Vista, CA/Rancho Buena Vista HS) and Matt Miller (Pleasonton, CA/Foothills HS) enter as freshman, while Scott Hess (Santa Rosa/Santa Rosa CC) and Kyle Prolo (Benicia, CA/Idaho State) are transfers.

"These five players are appreciated not only for their accomplishments on the course, but for their character and integrity as a whole," Nelson said. "We look forward to their contribution to men's golf and to the USF community."

Ji Hwan Park, 5-11, Freshman, Fullerton, CA/Emerson Honors HS
Ji Hwan Park has already established himself as a force not only in Southern California but also internationally. Park captured more than six Korean National Junior titles. Ranked in the top 40 nationally, Park won the 2007 California State Open against a strong professional field. He posted a top-10 showing in the same event in 2008.

Joey Toulon, 5-11, Freshman, Vista, CA/Rancho Buena Vista HS
Joey Toulon is an incoming freshman who joins his brother Tony, a senior for the Dons. Joey has come on strong in numerous events and recently finished third in the Champions High School Junior Invitational. He was named All-San Diego CIF as a junior and captained his high school team for three years.

Matt Miller, 5-10, Freshman, Pleasonton/Foothills HS
Mat Miller is the third freshman to sign with USF. He recently advanced to match play in the San Francisco City Amateur, one of the strongest fields in the State. He has also posted numerous low rounds including a final round 65 in the Alameda Commuters, the lowest round of the tournament against another quality field.

Scott Hess, 5-9, Junior, Santa Rosa, CA/Santa Rosa City College
Scott Hess is a junior transfer from Santa Rosa City College. He brings a wealth of tournament experience including a victory in the Northern California Match Play Championships. He also qualified for the U.S. Public Links, the Hogan Cup Team and represented Northern California on the North-South Championship Team.

Kyle Prolo, 6-0, Senior, Benicia, CA/Idaho State
A senior transfer from Idaho State, Kyle Prolo was their number one player for three years before the Bengals dropped their golf program at the end of the 2007-08 season. A 2008 America Sky First Team Selection, Prolo set records for both single season scoring average and career scoring average for the Bengals. In his final year in Pocatello, Prolo posted multiple top-10 tournament finishes. He will step onto the team with tremendous experience and success at the Division I level.

Park, Toulon, Miller and Prolo will enter USF as Business majors, joining an already accomplished returning group of student-athletes which posted a 3.3 GPA as a team during the 2007-08 campaign.