MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama head men's golf coach Ben Hannan announced Thursday that two individuals have signed National Letters-of-Intent with the program and will enroll in school in the fall.

The pair come to South in August and have four years of eligibility.

"Both Eli and Will are talented, hard-working players, they will add depth to an already skilled and deep team," Hannan said.  "They are both solid student-athletes and together make a very strong class.  We are excited to welcome them to the Jaguar family."

Mitchell — who hails from Meridian, Miss. — has been a member of the varsity team at Lamar School the last seven years.  Last season, after placing second individually at the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools AAAA D2 state championship, he was named second-team all-state by the Mississippi Clarion Ledger.  Prior to his junior season, Mitchell had twice earned medalist honors at the state tournament, while his efforts have helped the Raiders claim the team championship each of the last four years.

The second-rated player in Mississippi in the Class of 2020, Mitchell is ranked seventh among all junior competitors in the state.  He has competed in 12 junior events in 2019, compiling eight top-10 results while shooting 72 or better in 10 rounds.  Mitchell won the Southeast Junior Golf Tour's Saugahatchee Junior Classic in July after shooting a season-low 68 over the final 18 holes to top a field of 59 competitors, and he also came in second at the American Junior Golf Association Preview at Greystone in April where he carded a 70 in the first round of play.  He recorded a three-round 210 total at the 70th annual Press Thornton Future Masters to finish ninth in a field of 231 golfers — highlighted by an opening-round 69 — while also posting scores of 69 at the SJGT Highland Oaks Junior Classic and the 2019 Junior PGA section qualifier.

"We have watched Eli play for the last several months.  As we got to know Eli and his family better, we knew he would be a great fit for our program and the university," said Hannan.  "Eli is a very good student and has shown the ability to compete and win throughout the Southeast.  He's physically strong with solid mechanics and has good club head speed.  Eli is a multisport athlete in high school, now that he will be able to just focus on golf we believe his potential is high and that he is only going to get better and better."

Skipp is among the top 20 in the most recent Boys Under-18 rankings in England.  Last summer, he posted scores of 70, 71 and 69 in the opening three rounds of the English Boys' Amateur Stroke Play Championship on the way to a third-place finish and then shot a 72 in both rounds of stroke play at the British Boys Amateur Championship to advance to match play at the event.

The Stockton-on-Tees, England, resident, led Dyke House Academy to four straight Durham County Boys championships, culminating with his efforts helping the institution claim the National Schools' Team Championship earlier this year.  Skipp served as captain for the Durham County boys squad this season after he was part of a team that won the Northern Federation Juniors crown in 2018.  He has also earned the individual Under-18s title at the Durham Schools' Championships on two occasions, and the last two years has been the Eaglescliffe club champion as well.

"We learned about Will because of his finishes in some of England's highest-ranked events," said Hannan.  "I had the opportunity to watch him in person at the British Boys Championship this summer where he made the cut for the match-play bracket.  Will's golf swing is very efficient, he hits the ball solid and out of the middle of the club face.  He also has good ownership around the greens, and I was impressed with the different pitches and chips he was able to execute throughout the week.  Will has a complete game and been successful on the national stage, so we look for him to continue to play at a high level."

The Jaguars open the spring schedule when they play host to the Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate at the Magnolia Grove Crossings Golf Course Feb. 10-11.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Birdie Club — the men's golf specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. All donations to the Birdie Club go directly to support the South Alabama men's golf program. For more information on how you can join visit:  jaguarathleticfund.com/birdieclub.

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