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Bronco golf signs four recruits
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Boise State University men’s golf Head Coach Kevin Burton announced the signing of our golfers to National Letters of Intent, April 28, a recruiting class that includes individuals from Australia, Wash., Ariz., and the Treasure Valley.
“We are losing four seniors this year,” Burton said. “We went all over the world to find kids that could step right in and compete. Not only did we find great golfers, we found great students that are going to continue to build this program into a force at the national level.”
Robbie Richards, a native of Tea Gardens, Australia, was a member of the Newcastle Division I Golf Squad, and won the combined high schools’ championship.
Richards also won the 2005 Port Macquarie Seaside Classic, the Fox Hills Junior Open, the Merewether Junior Classic, and the Hawks Nest Junior Championship.
As a junior, Richards was ranked top 10 in the state. With a grade-point average of 4.0, he was named the CALTREX Best All-Rounder, for consistency in athletics, academics and extra-curricular activities.
Chase Cochran, a Phoenix, Ariz., native, recorded tournament victories at the Vistal Invitational and the Saguaro Jr. Masters, en route to being named to the All-Region and Super-Region teams. Cochran is currently ranked in the top 10 in the Ariz. High School 5A classification.
“Chase wanted to play at a school where he could work with a great coach,” Cochran’s father Kevin said. “And Boise State has, by far, the best coach of any major college. Chase’s uncle played on Tour with (Burton), and he couldn’t say enough about him.”
Shawn Tonkin, a native of Mercer Island, Wash., was named First Team All-KingCo three times, and was named International Junior Golf Tour Player of the Year in 2001. Tonkin was a member of the Wash. State Hogan’s Cup team, as well as the Future Collegians World Tour All American first team in 2000-01 and 2002-03.
He won the Washington Junior Golf Association State Championship in 2004 as well as both the Westfield PGA Junior Championship PNW Section and the IJGT Sunriver Resort Championship in 2003. Tonkin was a member of the National Honor Roll in 2004.
Treasure Valley standouts Robbie Heithecker and Christopher Byrne have also signed NLIs to compete at Boise State.
Heithecker led Vallivue High School to three district championships and competed in the State championship each of his four varsity seasons.
Heithecker won the second flight of the Broadmore Match Play Championship in 2003 at 15 years old, and in 2004 won the 16s State championship.
“I chose Boise State because it is a program on the rise,” Heithecker said. “It means a lot to me to be able to compete to my full potential and contribute to a great team.”
Byrne, who signed his NLI, Nov. 15, is currently a senior at Borah High School and was named the PGA Rocky Mountain Section Junior Player of the Year in 2005.
“I have taught Byrnes for the last three years,” Burton said. “He has steadily improved each year and I think his jump to the division one collegiate level should be smooth. He will be a great contributor to our team.”
Courtesy Broncosports.com