Michigan Adds Talented Trio During Early Signing Period
11/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan men's golf coach Andrew Sapp announced today (Thursday, Nov. 17) the signing of Billy McKay Jr. (Grand Blanc, Mich./David Leadbetter Golf Academy [Bradenton, Fla.]), Ross Millman (St. Louis, Mo./Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School) and Michael Slovitt (Winnetka, Ill./New Trier High School) to National Letters of Intent for the 2006-07 academic year.
"We are extremely pleased with the signing of all three early recruits," said Sapp. "With two of them you get state high school champions, as Billy won the 2004 Michigan State High School Championship and Ross won the 2005 Missouri State Championship, as well as a junior champion after Michael won the 2005 Illinois Junior Amateur Championship. All three players have a lot of national experience and one has PGA Tour experience. It is great to get players who know how to win on a big stage, and we hope that they will help Michigan win championships when they get here."
McKay, who is currently enrolled at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Bradenton, Fla., made his mark as a junior after playing three years at Grand Blanc High School. In 2004, he won the Michigan State High School Championship and the Big Nine Conference Championship titles while helping Grand Blanc to both team titles as well. In 2005, he was youngest player ever to qualify for the PGA Buick Open at Warwick Hills Country Club in his hometown. He opened with a one-under-par 71 but shot 84 in the second round to miss the cut by 13 shots.
Millman, who will begin his senior season in March, won individual medalist honors (2005) as well as back-to-back team titles (2004 and 2005) at the Missouri High School State Championships. The three-time All-ABC League first team selection was the medalist at both the district finals and ABC League Championships as a senior. A two-time All-State selection, Millman was the runner-up for the Metropolitan Player of the Year as well as an All-Metro first team selection in 2005 and a third team selection in 2004.
Slovitt, who was the No. 1-ranked junior in Illinois, won the Illinois State Junior Amateur Championship (2005) and held the lowest scoring average in the Illinois Junior Golf Association with a 71.67 per round score. He was ranked No. 34 nationally for the class of 2006 by Golfweek and No. 70 overall nationally for all classes. Playing at New Trier High School, Slovitt won a conference individual championship (2003) and was a three-time all-conference and all-area selection (2003, '04, '05). He was a two-time team captain (2004, '05) and was an all-area honorary captain (2005).
The Wolverines will lose four players from their 2005-06 roster as fifth-year seniors Mark McIntosh and Jimmy Wisinski as well as senior Christian Vozza and Brandon Duff will exhaust their eligibility.
Billy McKay Jr.
Righthanded, Leadbetter Golf Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Prep Career: Junior Golf Career:
Currently enrolled at David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Played three years at Grand Blanc High School (2002, '03, '04)
Michigan High School Individual State Champion (2004, 74-71/145)
Tied for 37th individually in 2003 (79-88/167)
Michigan High School Team State Champions (2004)
Helped Grand Blanc to 11th team finish (2003)
Big Nine Conference Champion (2004)
Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association Division I, first team (2004)
Ranked No. 35 in class of 2006 according to Golf Week Junior Rankings
Ranked No. 74 in all classes according to Golf Week Junior Rankings
Competed in 2005 PGA Buick Open as Amateur at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club
Had rounds scores of 71 and 84 for a 153 36-hole total, missed cut
Was the youngest player ever to qualify for the Buick Open
Medalist at the Buick Open qualifier with a course record six-under 66 at Fieldstone Golf Course
FCWT All-American, second team (2005)
Power Bilt Tour Player of the Year (2003)
FCWT's Tapatio Springs Junior Golf Challenge, medalist (2005)
Michigan Junior Amateur Stroke and Match Play medalist runner-up (2004)
USGA Boy's Junior Amateur Qualifier, ninth (2005)
Golfweek Junior Championship, tied 20th (2005)
AJGA Ping Phoenix Junior, 29th (2005)
Western Junior Championship, tied 37th (2005)
Ross Millman
Righthanded, St. Louis, Mo. (Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School)
Prep Career: Junior Golf Career:
Missouri High School Individual State Champion (2005, 71-72/143)
Missouri High School Team State Champions (2004, '05)
High School District Champion (2005, 71)
ABC League Conference Champion (2005, 75)
All-ABC League, first team (2003, '04, '05)
2005 Metropolitan Player of the Year Runner-up
All-State selection (2004, '05)
All-Metro, first team (2005) and third team (2004)
Team Captain (2004, '05)
Four-year Academic Honor Roll (2002, '03, '04, '05)
Ranked No. 105 in class of 2006 according to Golf Week Junior Rankings
Ranked No. 221 in all classes according to Golf Week Junior Rankings
St. Louis District Junior Champion (74-75/149)
Pepsi Little Peoples 11/148 (73-73/146)
Missouri Junior Amateur 13/125 (74-77/151)
Metropolitan Junior Amateur 3/31 (76-75/151)
FCWT Cog Hill 2005 4/53 (76-75/151)
FCWT Far Oaks 2005 4/55 (74-76/150)
Competed in three AJGA's and the Western Junior
FCWT National Championship 2005 60/177 (78-76-74/228)
PJGT at Aberdeen 1/10 (74-71/145)
Junior Champions Tour at Old Hickory 1/13 (74-80/154)
Michael Slovitt
Righthanded, Winnetka, Ill. (New Trier High School)
Prep Career:
Conference Champion (2003)
All-Conference (2003, '04, '05)
All-Area, first team (2003, '05, '05)
All-Area, honorary captain (2005)
Team Captain (2004, '05)
Team Most Valuable Player (2004, '05)
Lowest Scoring Average Award (2004, '05)
Scholar Athlete (2005)
Honor Roll Distinction every semester
Junior Golf Career:
Ranked No. 34 in class of 2006 according to Golf Week Junior Rankings
Ranked No. 70 in all classes according to Golf Week Junior Rankings
Illinois State Junior Amateur Champion (2005)
Illinois Junior Golf Association lowest scoring average (71.67, 2005)
Illinois State Amateur Championship, 26th (2005)
Lowest score for high school competitor (67-72-74-74/287 [-1])
Two-time AJGA Low Scoring Awards (67 and 70, 2005)
AJGA Fidelity Investment Junior Championship medalist runner-up (2004)
AJGA Tournament Career: Top 5 (1); top 10 (3) and top 25 (8)
Shot a career-low five-under 67, three times
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
