Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo identification from left to right: Joey Russo, assistant Tomasz Pulsakowski, and head coach Harry Jennings.
NEWARK, Del. - - Wilmington University golf head coach Harry Jennings isn't resting on reaching the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II National Championship last spring, as he has once again crossed international line to in hopes to reach the next step. Jennings went north of the boarder this year in welcoming three Canadians as well as one local student-athlete to the 2016-17 roster.
The Wildcats welcome Jack Dixon from Camden, Del., Matt Kettleson from Vancouver, B.C., Braden McKay from Rossland, B.C., and Zac Moore from Brantford, Ontario to the squad for the upcoming season.
Dixon was a four-year letterwinner at Caesar Rodney High School, helping the team to four straight Henlopen Conference Championships. The Riders also claimed the 2013 DIAA State Championship while finishing second in 2016. Dixon was named First Team All-Conference as a junior and senior, earning medalist honors at the Conference Championship as a senior in 2016. He was also named First Team All-State during his senior season.
Kettleson was a member of Team Canada at the 2015 Euro Junior Cup, going 2-0-1 in match play in helping Team Canada retain the Cup. The Vancouver native finished second at the MJT Season Opener by shooting a second round 69 and the CJGA Preseason Junior Tournament with a consistent 75-75. Kettleson recorded a T30th finish at the British Columbia Junior Boys Championship, shooting the four-round tournament with a 76-74-74-71. He comes to Wilmington after finishing his tournament season with a scoring average of 73.9.
McKay comes to Wilmington after playing golf at J.L. Crowe Secondary in Trail, British Columbia, for head coach Brian Moroney. He also competed at the 2015 British Columbia Junior Boys Championships, finishing T39th with rounds of 73-73-75-78. He finished second in both the 2015 Rocky Mountain Palouse Ridge tour even and the Hangman Valley event. He was the only junior to make the cur at the 2015 Pacific Northwest Sectional PGA-Rosaures Open with rounds of 75-70-71. This past summer, he earned medalist honors at the Lilac City Invitational by shooting a 72-72-74.
Moore joins the Wildcats after playing high school golf at Bishop Tonnes Catholic Secondary in Ancaster, Ontario, outside Toronto. Most recently, Moore played two seasons of golf at Lackawanna College. While at Lackawanna, Moore earned a spot at the NJCAA Division II National Championship in each season, finishing T16th out of 120 this past May, receiving Second Team All-American honors. He also earned medalist honors at the EPAC Championship as a freshman at Lackawanna.
The four incoming student-athletes and the rest of the Wildcats begin their 2016-17 season next week, as they take part in a split squad tournament. Half the team will head to the Jay Jennison Cup in St. Augustine, Fla., while the other half will take part in the Quechee Division II Challenge in Quechee, Vt.