Golf Adds Michigan State Transfer James Ross in 2011-12
6/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
June 1, 2011
HOUSTON - Michigan State transfer James Ross joined the University of Houston golf team after signing a scholarship offer, head coach Jonathan Dismuke announced Wednesday morning
Ross, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, spent his first two collegiate seasons at Michigan State and will immediately challenge for a spot in the Cougar starting lineup. He will have two years of eligibility remaining in 2011-12.
"James had an impressive record at Michigan State and in junior golf," said Dismuke, who recently finished his second season with the Cougars. "He is a solid, all-around player with a lot of size and physical ability.
"Growing up in Scotland, players have to learn how to manage the ball in tough weather condition. As a European player, he will handle inclement weather very well here. James will come in and made an immediate impact on the program."
As a sophomore at Michigan State in 2010-11, Ross competed in seven events and finished third on the team with a 75.5 scoring average. He also finished second among the Spartans with two top-10 and three top-20 finishes and won the Fossum Invitational after shooting a final-round 72.
As a freshman, he was one of only two players to compete in all 12 tournaments and finished second on the team with a 74.10 scoring average, a mark that ranked second 18th all time at MSU and second among freshmen.
Prior to entering the collegiate ranks, Ross studied at Stewarts Melville College. While there, he finished 10th in the Irish Amateur Stroke Play in 2009. He also represented Scotland at the European Boys Team Championships, the Boys Home Internationals and the German Boys Open.
University of Houston Golf Signees
as of 2 p.m., June 1, 2011
Player Ht. Wt. Cl.-Exp.* Hometown-High SchoolKyle Pilgrim 6-1 200 Fr.-HS Dallas, Texas-Colleyville HeritageRoman Robledo 6-1 200 Fr.-HS Harlingen, Texas-Harlingen SouthJames Ross 6-5 190 Jr.-TR Edinburgh, Scotland- Stewarts Melville College (Michigan St.)* - class in 2011-12
JAMES ROSS
6-5 • 190 • Jr.-TR
Edinburgh, Scotland-Stewarts Melville College (Michigan State)
ABOUT JAMES ROSS
Solid, all-around player... Brings size and physical ability to the program... Talented player who can handle inclement weather on the course... Will have two years of eligibility remaining in 2011-12.
PRE-HOUSTON
Competed for two seasons at Michigan State from 2009 to 2011 before transferring to Houston. Sophomore (2010-11): Appeared in seven events... Finished third on the team with a 75.5 scoring average... Second on the team with two top-10 and three top-20 finishes... Won the Fossum Invitational in a playoff over teammate Chris Mory, shooting a 146 (74-72)... Was the top Spartan, tying for 24th at the Adams Cup of Newport with a 226 (80-73-73)... Tied for 14th at the Rees Jones Intercollegiate with a 232 (81-74-77)... Went 3-0 at the Big Ten Match Play Championship at the No. 1 spot for MSU, defeating Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin... Posted his best 54-hole score of his career with a 217 (74-72-71) at the Pinehurst Intercollegiate, tying for eighth as the top Spartan. Freshman (2009-10): One of two players to compete in all 12 events... Finished second on the team with a 74.10 scoring average... Scoring average ranked 18th all-time at MSU and second among freshmen... Also second with five top-20 finishes and 75 birdies... Had 88.7% (27.5/31) of his rounds counted... Second on the team with both a +0.94 par-3 and +1.61 par-4 scoring average... Was the team's top finisher at the Topy Cup in Tokyo, Japan, tying for 16th with a 220 (75-72-73)... Tied for ninth at the Rees Jones Intercollegiate, the top MSU golfer, with a 225 (78-72-75)... Tied for 20th at the Firestone Invitational with a 224 (75-74-75)... Shot a season-low 67 in the first round of the UNCG Bridgestone... Went 1-2-0 at the Big Ten Match Play Championship... Had his best finish of the season, tying for fifth with a 220 (73-74-73)... Was the team's top performer at the Big Ten Championship, tying for 16th at 294 (75-68-78-73).
STEWARTS MELVILLE COLLEGE
2009: Placed 13th in the Welsh Stroke Play Championship... Finished 10th in the Irish Amateur Stroke Play... Placed 25th at the Craigmillar Park Open... Lundin Links Spring Meeting Champion. 2008: Represented Scotland at the European Boys Team Championships, the Boys Home Internationals and the German Boys Open... Was a quarterfinalist at the Scottish Boys Championship... Advanced to the round of 32 at the British Boys Championship. 2007: Member of the National Development team... Finalist at the Lothians County Championship... Won the Clencorse Boys Open.
PERSONAL
Born March 17, 1990.
CAREER BESTS
Low Round: 67 (1st), UNC Greensboro Bridgestone (Oct. 24-25, 2009)
Low 36 Holes: 143, Big Ten Championships (April 30, 2010); Western Intercollegiate (April 17-18, 2010)
Low 54 Holes: 217, Pinehurst Intercollegiate (March 11-13, 2011)
Best Finish: t-1st, Fossum Invitational (Sept. 11-12, 2010)
ROSS' CAREER STATISTICS
| Season | Events | Rounds | Strokes | Avg. |
| 2009-10 (at MSU) | 12 | 31 | 2,297 | 74.10 |
| 2010-11 (at MSU) | 7 | 17 | 1.284 | 75.53 |
| Totals | 19 | 48 | 3,581 | 74.60 |