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Nov. 14, 2012
SEATTLE - Husky Men's Golf Coach Matt Thurmond inked Kevin Kwon of British Columbia, Canada and Corey Pereira of Cameron Park, Calif. to national letters of intent on Wednesday, the first day of the signing period.
"We're signing two great players and great competitors," said Thurmond, in his 12th year as the Huskies coach. "This is an exciting class for us. Both of these guys have shown they know how to win and both have a special knack for the game." The highly-touted high school seniors will join Washington for the 2013-14 school year. For Kwon, the choice to come south of the border and join the Huskies was one he has anticipated for quite some time. "I am absolutely thrilled for this day to have arrived," said Kwon. "My family and I have been waiting eagerly for some time. There is not a shade of doubt that University of Washington is the school for me." Kwon, from Pitt Meadows, B.C., is one of the top junior golfers in Canada. The 2011 Canadian Junior Champion and PNGA Junior Boys' Player of the Year has spent two years with the Canadian National Development Team and has built an impressive resume in recent years. Besides winning the 2011 Canadian Junior Championship, Kwon has recorded a pair of runner-up finishes at the BC Junior Boys' Championship and the Canadian National Future Links Pacific Championship, as well as a 4th place finish at the Western Canada Summer Games. He also has a third-place finish at the BC Amateur and tied for sixth at the Toyota World Golf Championship. Kwon also had an impressive 14th place finish at the 2012 Canadian Men's Amateur Championship. "I am honored to be able to play for such a highly ranked team with equally outstanding teammates," continued Kwon. "Knowing that Coach Thurmond and (Assistant Dan) Potter will be supporting me in the following years is great because I know they will help me enjoy my university life and excel in my career." Thurmond has mined Canada several times previously to find top-notch talent. Besides current Husky Charlie Hughes, 2010 Ben Hogan Award winner Nick Taylor, 2005 NCAA Champion James Lepp and 2009 Pac-12 Champion Darren Wallace all hailed from British Columbia.
Kwon attends Maple Ridge Secondary and is fluent in three languages: English, French and Korean. Pereira has to travel a little further than Kwon to join the Huskies, but is equally thrilled to don the purple and gold. "Being able to sign at such an amazing school for both golf and education is an unbelievable feeling," Pereira, from Ponderosa High School in Cameron Park, said. "I can see that my hard work has paid off and I can't wait to pursue my goals at University of Washington." Pereira, Golfweek.com's No. 8 ranked recruit, has participated in the Future Collegians World Tour as a junior golfer and has built a strong resume against some tough competition. He was named the 2012 West Coast player of the year on the tour and celebrated that honor by winning the FCWT Championship at PGA National in Florida. Additionally, Pereira can boast a second-place finish at the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship in July of 2012, second at the NCGA Championship at Spyglass and second among individuals at the 2012 Hogan Cup, where his Northern California team won. Other 2012 junior championships he earned include: Humbolt Country Jr. Champion, Stockton Jr. Champion and Top of the Bay Jr. Champion. The Huskies will lose three players due to graduation this June: Hughes, Larry Iverson and the current No. 1 ranked amateur player in the world, Chris Williams. |
