University of Houston Athletics
Matt Cole, Laurence Crea Join Houston
7/1/2019 4:59:00 PM | Men's Golf
Cole comes to Houston from Arkansas State, Crea joins from Prairie View A&M
HOUSTON – Matt Cole and Laurence Crea have joined the University of Houston Men's Golf program after recently signing scholarship agreements and will compete with the Cougars in 2019-20, Director of Golf Jonathan Dismuke announced Monday.
Cole, who measures 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, spent his first four seasons at Arkansas State before graduating in business with a degree in marketing. He will have one season of eligibility remaining in 2019-20 as a graduate transfer.
With the Red Wolves, he competed in a combined 21 tournaments after sitting out the 2015-16 season as a redshirt.
As a junior in 2018-19, Cole finished with a 73.03 scoring average, leading the Red Wolves to the Sun Belt Conference Championships title and a berth in the NCAA Louisville Regional. He finished second at the Little Rock Invitational with a score of 213 after shooting 67-69 in the final two rounds and tied for third at the Border Olympics with a score of 8-under 209, thanks to a 65 in the Second Round.
One year earlier, Cole captured the Bubba Barnett Invitational individual championship with a score of 10-under 206 after three straight sub-par rounds, including a 66 on the first 18 holes. That same season, he fired a career-low 63 in the First Round at the Border Olympics on March 9, 2018.
As a redshirt freshman in 2015-16, he earned Red Wolves Intercollegiate medalist honors with a score of 3-under 213 in the fourth collegiate tournament of his career.
"Matt was a solid player for Arkansas State and contributed at a high level," Dismuke said. "He is familiar with several of the courses we are playing this year. Matt is a great student and will be a positive leader for us this season."
Cole was a prep star at Fayetteville High School before joining Arkansas State. He was named the 2015 Class 3A Wendy's Golf High School Player of the Year after capturing the Arkansas High School Overall state championship. During the 2014-15 season, he finished among the Top 25 leaders in all but one tournament and was named the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps Outstanding Golfer of the Year.
Crea, whose last name is pronounced Cray, joins the Cougars after award-winning careers at Prairie View A&M and at Cy-Fair High School.
"Laurence is a great kid and a joy to be around. He has one of the best most upbeat personalities of anyone I have ever worked with," Dismuke said. "With two conference championships and NCAA Regional experience, Laurence will be a tremendous asset to our team."
Competing with Prairie View A&M from 2017 to 2019, Crea, who measures 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, won back-to-back individual titles at the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championships and helped lead the Panthers to consecutive team crowns, the program's first in nearly 40 years.
In 2018-19, Crea won his second straight SWAC Championships individual title while leading the Panthers to NCAA Regional play in both seasons. He finished with a 74.17 average and nine Top-20 finishes in 11 tournaments.
As a freshman in 2017-18, Crea opened the SWAC Championships with a 67 on the way to his first conference title. Earlier that season, he finished second in two tournaments before falling in playoffs and was recognized as the league's Freshman of the Year and a member of the All-SWAC First Team.
He posted a 74.32 average with eight Top-20 showings in nine tournaments.
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Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMGolf on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMGolf. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at uhcougarmgolf.
Cole, who measures 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, spent his first four seasons at Arkansas State before graduating in business with a degree in marketing. He will have one season of eligibility remaining in 2019-20 as a graduate transfer.
With the Red Wolves, he competed in a combined 21 tournaments after sitting out the 2015-16 season as a redshirt.
As a junior in 2018-19, Cole finished with a 73.03 scoring average, leading the Red Wolves to the Sun Belt Conference Championships title and a berth in the NCAA Louisville Regional. He finished second at the Little Rock Invitational with a score of 213 after shooting 67-69 in the final two rounds and tied for third at the Border Olympics with a score of 8-under 209, thanks to a 65 in the Second Round.
One year earlier, Cole captured the Bubba Barnett Invitational individual championship with a score of 10-under 206 after three straight sub-par rounds, including a 66 on the first 18 holes. That same season, he fired a career-low 63 in the First Round at the Border Olympics on March 9, 2018.
As a redshirt freshman in 2015-16, he earned Red Wolves Intercollegiate medalist honors with a score of 3-under 213 in the fourth collegiate tournament of his career.
"Matt was a solid player for Arkansas State and contributed at a high level," Dismuke said. "He is familiar with several of the courses we are playing this year. Matt is a great student and will be a positive leader for us this season."
Cole was a prep star at Fayetteville High School before joining Arkansas State. He was named the 2015 Class 3A Wendy's Golf High School Player of the Year after capturing the Arkansas High School Overall state championship. During the 2014-15 season, he finished among the Top 25 leaders in all but one tournament and was named the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps Outstanding Golfer of the Year.
Crea, whose last name is pronounced Cray, joins the Cougars after award-winning careers at Prairie View A&M and at Cy-Fair High School.
"Laurence is a great kid and a joy to be around. He has one of the best most upbeat personalities of anyone I have ever worked with," Dismuke said. "With two conference championships and NCAA Regional experience, Laurence will be a tremendous asset to our team."
Competing with Prairie View A&M from 2017 to 2019, Crea, who measures 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, won back-to-back individual titles at the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championships and helped lead the Panthers to consecutive team crowns, the program's first in nearly 40 years.
In 2018-19, Crea won his second straight SWAC Championships individual title while leading the Panthers to NCAA Regional play in both seasons. He finished with a 74.17 average and nine Top-20 finishes in 11 tournaments.
As a freshman in 2017-18, Crea opened the SWAC Championships with a 67 on the way to his first conference title. Earlier that season, he finished second in two tournaments before falling in playoffs and was recognized as the league's Freshman of the Year and a member of the All-SWAC First Team.
He posted a 74.32 average with eight Top-20 showings in nine tournaments.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMGolf on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMGolf. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at uhcougarmgolf.
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