MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama head men's golf coach Ben Hannan announced Tuesday that Jack Hearn has signed a grant-in-aid and will enroll in school in the fall.
Hearn comes to South from McNeese State, where he has earned all-Southland Conference honors on two occasions over the last three years.
"With the Covid year, we were looking to add a transfer to help balance out our roster between upper and lowerclassmen," Hannan said. "We happened to be paired with McNeese in the final round at Houston this year and I was very impressed with Jack's mental maturity along with his physical ability. He has good speed, sound technique and a solid short game. He has a consistent game and has shown the ability to score under par on many different types of golf courses.
"We are looking forward to Jack bringing his experience and success to our team, and excited he'll be joining us next fall."
The Carrick-on-Suir, Tipperary, Ireland, resident played in all four events the Cowboys competed in this spring, posting a pair of top-10 results — coming in sixth place at both the Bayou City Collegiate Classic and Huntsville Toyota Bearkat Invitational — while recording a 73.25 scoring average. Hearn ranked fourth in the league in stroke average and score against par after shooting par or better in six of 12 rounds highlighted by four scores in the 60s, picking up second-team all-Southland honors for those efforts.
He was a third-team all-conference selection in 2018-19, his first season at McNeese, after ending up second on the squad with a 74.10 stroke average. That included shooting par or below with a 71 on four occasions as Hearn posted his best result of the year — a tie for ninth place in the individual standings — to help the Cowboys claim the team title at the Louisiana Classics. He finished with a 75.53 scoring average as a sophomore as well.
Hearn won titles at the junior level at the Munster Senior Schools and All Ireland Senior Schools Championships, and he also placed sixth in Flight A at the European Boys Championship while representing Ireland at several Under-18 team events. He fired a 5-under par total to come in second place at the Munster Boys Amateur while also tying for second at the Connacht Boys Under-18 Open Championship, ending up fifth at the Ulster Boys Under-19 Open Championship to go along with a top-10 result at the Leinster Boys Under-18 Open Championship. Hearn tied for second at Ulster Boys Under-16 Open Championship as well.
He is the second individual set to join the program in the fall, as the Jaguars signed Kevin Dahlberg (Skanör, Sweden) in November.
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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