The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men’s Golf signs three to National Letters of Intent
11.14.2013 | Men's Golf
Taylor Funk, Doug Ghim and Scottie Scheffler to join the Longhorns in 2014.
AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas Men's Golf head coach John Fields announced Thursday the signings of three junior standouts for 2014. Taylor Funk, Doug Ghim (GHEM) and Scottie Scheffler will join the Longhorns' program next year as one of the top classes in the nation.
"Texas is acquiring a great mix of young men with Taylor, Doug and Scottie," Fields said. "This class is outstanding for our men's golf program in a number of ways. First of all, they each bring numerous accomplishments with them. They also bring a tremendous amount of competitive knowledge that they've gained in different ways. They've all experienced success on the AJGA Tour and certainly at the highest levels of junior golf. Furthermore, they've all ventured into amateur golf with significant achievements, thus bringing unique competitive experiences for our team. But what's even more incredible is that they are all three great people – exceptional on the course and in the classroom - and we are excited to welcome them as Texas Longhorn men's golfers," Fields said.
Taylor Funk (Ponte Vedra, Fla.)
The 2013 Florida Class 2A state champion, Funk also led the Ponte Vedra Sharks to their first-ever state championship in October. The 2012 St. John's County St. Augustine Record Boys Golfer of the Year and first team all county, Funk was the Florida High School Athletic Association 2012 2A Regional champion and finished tied for eighth at the 2A state tournament. Additionally, Funk earned medalist honors at the 2013 Future Collegians World Tour at TPC Sawgrass and Inverrary and the 2013 AJGA Ocala-Marion Sports Commission Junior.
Son of eight-time PGA TOUR winner Fred Funk, the home-schooled Taylor has caddied for his father on the Champions Tour for the last two and a half years. Funk will enroll at Texas in January 2014.
Doug Ghim (Arlington Heights, Ill.)
The No. 5 junior in Golfweek's class of 2014, Ghim was a semifinalist at the 2013 U.S. Junior Amateur before falling to eventual champion and teammate Scheffler. The 2011 Illinois State Junior medalist has recorded 10 top-10 finishes at AJGA events since 2010, including three wins at the 2010 Junior All-State at The Rail, 2011 McArthur Towel & Sports Future Legends and 2011 Coca-Cola Junior Championship at Boyne Highlands. As a freshman in 2010 – his only season of high school golf – Ghim finished third at the Illinois Class 3A state tournament.
During the summer, Ghim recorded a pair of season-best fourth-place finishes at the AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions and AJGA Goodman Networks Junior at Traditions.
Scottie Scheffler (Dallas, Texas)
The No. 1 junior in Golfweek's class of 2014, Scheffler won the 2013 U.S. Junior Amateur at Martis Camp Club in July before becoming only the second reigning U.S. Junior winner since 1986 to reach the quarterfinals of the Amateur at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. Earlier in 2013, Scheffler tied for runner-up honors at the HP Boys Championship at Carlton Woods.
In 2012, Scheffler set or tied course records at two different courses in the Dallas area. He first broke Northwood Club's course record, previously set by PGA TOUR player Hunter Mahan, with a 10-under 61. Just a few days later, he tied the course record at Dallas Country Club with a 9-under 61. He shares low course honors with 2011 U.S. Amateur champion Kelly Kraft. Also in 2012, Scheffler had four top-10 finishes in seven AJGA starts, including a runner-up finish at the Polo Golf Junior Classic. He was also a runner-up just a month later at the Jones Cup Junior.
A two-time UIL champion (2012-13), Scheffler has accepted a sponsor's exemption to play in next year's HP Byron Nelson, May 12-18 at the TPC Four Seasons Resort in Las Colinas.
