Matt Thurmond • HEAD COACH 8th Season • 2005 Pac-10 Conference Coach of the Year • 2009 U.S. Palmer Cup Coach COURSES & FACILITES 2009 OUTLOOK COACHES PLAYERS Coach Thurmond has coached seven All-Americans during his seven years at Washington. His most recent such golfer is junior Nick Taylor.
att Thurmond is a competitor. Whether it be as in any sport, is always more fun when winning, but a ping-pong tournament, which he and his Thurmond has a unique combination of success and Thurmond has shown his innovation in recruiting Mgolfers compete in regularly, golfing on the youth that resonates with players. during his time at Washington. He is willing to go beach or practicing on the links with his players, he wherever he finds a solid player, as demonstrated
is there to win and have fun doing it. “Matt is an incredibly intelligent and innovating by his signing of Singapore golfer Tze Huang Choo. 2008 REVIEW coach,” Lepp said. “But he’s just like one of the And the time he spent on recruits in British Columbia It is Thurmond’s fun and hands-on approach to players too.” has paid off. Nick Taylor, Kevin Spooner and Darren coaching that has guided the Huskies to become one Wallace are all from Canada. of the premier golf programs in the country in just his His ability to relate to his players and his success are first seven years as head coach. Under his instruction, the two reasons why he will coach the U.S. Palmer Thurmond was a four-year letterman on the BYU golf the University of Washington men’s program has Cup team this year. team from 1993-99 and was named Western Athletic finished inside the top 10 at the NCAA Championship four out of the past five years.
HISTORY But those accomplishments are not what Thurmond Thurmond’s Postseason Results focuses on a day-to-day basis. Instead, he makes sure that his players are comfortable playing and Year College Postseason studying at the University of Washington. His player- 2002 Washington 11th at NCAAs friendly coaching style is one that quickly acclimates 2003 Washington 11th at NCAAs his players to Division I golf and the pressures of 2004 Washington 6th at NCAAs Pac-10 play. 2005 Washington 3rd at NCAAs 2006 Washington 9th at NCAAs THE WASHINGTON WAY “I knew one thing for sure, wherever we went, 2007 Washington everybody knew that we had more fun,” said 2006 2008 Washington 7th at NCAAs graduate and former player James Lepp. “Everybody was jealous of us.”
Lepp won the 2005 NCAA Individual Championship, and was one of Thurmond’s highest achieving golfers.
Thurmond has overseen the most successful stretch run in Washington’s history, reaching the NCAA tournament in six of his seven years as coach, and finishing in the top 11 each of those six years. Golf,
11 THE WASHINGTON WAY HISTORY 2008 REVIEW PLAYERS COACHES 2009 OUTLOOK COURSES & FACILITES to had BYU top attention 2001 as careers Thurmond, in tradition Mackenzie only by Venezuela Lepp honorees. Thurmond’s coached. Thurmond’s season. He have Conference that, title, NCAA, alive. to distinction nationally Sorenson, hard runner-up the Canadian a Pac-10 Thurmond ping At nations In NCAA as Invite coach, by Thurmond’s 2008 Thurmond Thurmond’s for prestigious Year, mentored 2009. 10 and NCAA national In 12 HEAD COACH•
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coach history.
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season advanced the Pac-10 in
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at Pac-10 nine
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to Huskies’ finish Olson hole
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Led Huskies
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third
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his earned win
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63
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from seasons. by Coach to Lepp
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notched was Prugh There UW his just
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take
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where
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to
and Lepp In Pac-10
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sunk one NCAA
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missing the
not playoff 10th
Huskies’
runner-up Erik 9 0 0 2
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Thurmond’s
efforts, Lepp.
Championship.
up entire it NCAA
season. strong Year tournament. final staged
round Washington three was individual
a deficit school’s
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place
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at Olson,
West
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Lepp Championships honors
with
honors.
18
the
all field the
medalist
while second-straight tournament
short
rounds, furious
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The a
history
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Regional,
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NCAA
at squad
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Thurmond
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reaching rallied season’s
A
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shot honors.
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to Erik Lepp, graduate. 2004
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players Tour.
Japan U.S.
Huskies history.
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11 of in HEAD COACH • Matt Thurmond Garrett Clegg & Scott Alexander • ASSISTANT COACHES
School. In 2005, Clegg finished third at the Utah Open. Garrett Clegg COURSES & FACILITES Clegg and his wife Rachael have two daughters, Grace and Sophie, and newly Assistant Coach born son Brady. Second Season
With his first season as Husky Assistant Coach under his belt, Garrett Clegg has proved to be a remarkable asset to the Husky golf program.. Clegg, a native of Bountiful, Utah, is a former professional and collegiate golfer who was a
member of the 2002 NCAA champion University 2009 OUTLOOK of Minnesota squad. Clegg also competed at the University of Utah. Clegg is involved in all areas of the program including coaching, recruiting, fund-rais- ing and tournament operations with a special emphasis on administrative duties. “Garrett brings a wide range of golf experience that includes championship success in college and a diverse professional background. He is able to bring that experi- ence to our guys and help guide, mentor and prepare them for more success in their futures,” said UW Head Coach Matt Thurmond. Clegg played collegiate golf at Minnesota for two years, where he was a part of the 2002 NCAA championship team before transferring to Utah for his final two seasons. COACHES A 2004 graduate of Utah, Clegg was a two-time All-Mountain West Conference selection and placed third in the conference championships in 2003. During his career with the Utes, he won the 2003 Nevada Wolfpack Invitational and the 2003 UC Riverside Invitational. Clegg played in the 2003 U.S. Amateur and advanced to the second round of the 2002 U.S. Public Links tournament. As a professional, he played the 2007 season in the
Nationwide Tour after finishing fifth in the second stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying PLAYERS
Scott Alexander Volunteer Assistant Coach
Second Season 2008 REVIEW
Scott Alexander begins his second season as Volun- teer Assistant Coach for the Husky golf team. Alexander, who joined the UW staff in late September of ‘07, is also the Director of Golf at the Gold Mountain Golf Complex which will serve as the host of the
PING/Golfweek Invitational this fall. Alexander has HISTORY also served on the Husky Golf Advisory Board. His role with the team includes assisting Head Coach Matt Thurmond with fundraising efforts and projects, hosting events, as well as coaching in practice and competition. “Adding Scott Alexander to our staff was extremely significant,” Thurmond said. “He is a tremendous leader, connects very well with our team and is a great teacher of the game of golf. I have known and worked with Scott for several years. His leadership has THE WASHINGTON WAY always inspired me. Everything he commits himself to becomes a great success and his commitment to Husky Golf will mean only increased success for us in the future.” Alexander, a native Oregonian, is a graduate of Seattle University, where he played golf and won multiple tournamen titles for the Redhawks. Alexander also played golf at the University of Oregon for one year before transferring to Seattle University. His playing career also included a Washington State Amateur crown. Alexander has been the Director of Golf at Gold Mountain since 1984. He was a driving force behind the building of the Olympic Course at the complex. With his guidance, Gold Mountain has hosted the annual Husky Invitational and the USGA Men’s Publinks. Gold Mountain will also serve as the site of the 2011 USGA Junior Championship. Alexander is a two-time PGA Northwest Section Professional of the Year, most recently awarded the honor in 2007. Alexander is married to Husky alum Ivaly Clack Alexander and has a daugther Tucker.
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