Kats sign pair of standouts
11/13/2023 9:12:00 AM | Men's Golf
HUNTSVILLE – Sam Houston men's golf coach Brandt Kieschnick has announced the signing of Ethan Dufresne and Alex Malanga for the 2024-25 season.Â
Ethan Dufresne • The Hills, Texas • Lake Travis HSÂ
Dufresne is ranked No. 14 in the State of Texas in the class of 2024. In 2022 he was selected to the prestigious Jackie Burke Cup team to represent the South Team as one of the top juniors in Texas, ultimately leading his squad to a win in the event.Â
He finished as runner-up at the 2022 LJT Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship with rounds of 68-69 (-7) and was third at the 2023 AJGA CT Pan Junior Championship, firing rounds of 74-70-68 (-4). Dufresne also finished fifth at the 2023 6A UIL State High School Championship with rounds of 70-70 (-4) and ninth at the 2023 Gator Invitational, firing 72-73-70 (-1).Â
Kieschnick on Dufresne …Â
"We are very excited to have Ethan join us. We wanted to make him a Bearkat after watching him this last year and we really liked his game from the first time we recruited him. Ethan really understands our golf program and our identity and knows how we go about competing and that's what makes him such a great fit. I love Ethan's competitiveness along with his ability to shoot under-par rounds. He loves to play and compete every day, and his work ethic fits our mold. He's a very good ball-striker with a swing that is easy to repeat along with a solid short game. We are excited to get Ethan to Huntsville to help us compete in Conference USA and on a national level."Â
Alex Malanga • The Woodlands, Texas • The Woodlands Christian AcademyÂ
Malanga is ranked No. 21 in the State of Texas in the Class of 2024. He qualified and competed in the 2023 US Junior and 2023 Junior PGA Championships, two of most prestigious junior golf events this summer. Â
He won co-medalist honors at the 2023 US Junior Boys Qualifer firing 68 and fired rounds of 74-79, just missing match play. Malanga Finished 10th at the 2023 AJGA Ping Phoenix Junior with rounds of 69-72-68 and competed in 2023 Junior PGA Boys Championship. firing 73-77. Â
Additionally, he finished 13th at the 2023 AJGA Patrick Reed Junior Championship with rounds of 76-75-71 and 12th at the 2022 AJGA Houston Junior, presented by Carbingo, firing 75-71-70. Â
A medalist he shot rounds of 68-72 at the 2022 Notah Begay III National Championship Regional Qualifer and ultimately finished 28th in 2022 Notah Begay III National Championship, firing 76-73-75.Â
Kieschnick on Malanga …Â
"We are excited to have Alex join our program. He is a solid player who competes and works hard on his craft which embodies our program. I love that Alex has qualified for some of the biggest events in junior golf which shows he can win and get it done when he needs to. He will be able to bring the experience of playing in national events to our program and help us compete for a Conference USA Championship and a national run again.Â
