For the second straight year a young golfer from South Africa will join the Lee University team. Coach John Maupin recently announced the signing Jacobus (JB) Eksteen. MJ Daffue, the S. Africa who played for the Flames last season, has transferred to Lamar University.
Eksteen attended Paarl High School in Paarl, S. Africa and has been deeply involved in junior golf for the past five years. “Junior golf is really strong in S. Africa,” said Eksteen. “Right now my short game is my strength, but I’m going to work hard to get my entire game sharper.”
The new signee is making his first trip to America. “I found out about the Lee golf program over the Internet and from a couple of friends,” he said when asked about why he selected the Flames. “My goals are to make the team, enjoy traveling and help the team win as many tournaments as possible.”
Eksteen will join a team that is loaded with talented freshmen and sophomore players. “We have two juniors, four freshmen and four sophomores battling for five spots,” said coach Maupin. “JB has played against an outstanding level of competition as have our other nine players. We are hoping their tournament experience will make up for their lack of college competition.”
The final golf signee of 2009 knows the competition will be strong. “I have already played with a couple of the players and they are really good,” he admitted. “I have won a couple of junior tournaments in S. Africa and I believe that will help me with my college game."
Eksteen, who says pro golfer Ernie Els is his hero, will be a Business Management major at Lee.
