Wolverines Add Trio of Early National Letter of Intent Signees
11/8/2023 10:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan men's golf head coach Zach Barlow announced Wednesday (Nov. 8) the additions of Nicolas Simon, Dean Muratore and Johnny Solis after they signed with the Wolverines during the early National Letter of Intent signing period.
Playing competitive golf since age seven, Simon, from Hoffman Estates, Ill., had a standout prep career at James B. Conant High School. He was a four-time Class 3A state qualifier and became the first Conant golfer to win a state title in 2023 (76-67/143, -1). He was also the first golfer from Conant to earn IHSA All-State first team honors (2021 & 2023).
Named the 2023 Mid-Suburban League Player of the Year, Simon was a four-time all-league first team selection, winning the league title in 2021 and twice finishing as the runner-up (2020, '22). Holding nearly every school record, he finished his career as the Conant leader for career 9-hole average (36.4), 9-hole score (2022; 30, -5), 9-hole average (2022; 34.2), 18-hole score (2023, 67, -5) and 18-hole average (2023, 70.7).
"Nicolas is a winner," said Barlow. "He's got that clutch gene as he showed recently at the IHSA State Championship. He will make an immediate impact on the team. He has the drive and desire to be a very special player here at Michigan and beyond. I am very excited for him to join us."
After missing most of the 2022 summer due to injury, Simon returned in 2023 and earned a semifinalist spot at the Chick Evans Junior Amateur. In the summer of 2021 he won the Chick Evans with a 3-and-2 win over Flynn Bradley. Closing out his 2023 season, he tied for sixth at ISJA at Makray Memorial (75-72-74/221) and tied for 12th at DCJC at Oak Meadows (72-75/147).
A Dix Hill, N.Y., native, Muratore enters his senior golf season at St. Anthony's as the defending NSCHSAA champion (2023) after a runner-up finish the year prior. A three-time All-NSCHSAA League and two-time team MVP, he added two top-10 finishes at the New York State Federation Cup played at Bethpage Black -- tying for third in 2022 and tying for eighth in 2023.
In the summer of 2023, Muratore used a three-under 210 tally to earn a runner-up at the New York Junior Amateur Championship. He added a second runner-up title at the Long Island Junior Championship along with a pair of third place finishes at Bethpage Green (t-3rd; 138, -6) and at Bethpage Blue (71, -1) playing in the Future Series. He capped off the summer as an alternate for the U.S. Junior Amateur and qualified for The Met Open and Metropolitan Golf Association's Public Links Championship.
"Dean is a freak athlete and has the 'it' factor that all coaches look for," said Barlow. "He wants the six-footer down the stretch to win it all. That's what I love about him. His junior record speaks for itself. He's competed and won at the highest levels all while being a high level multi-sport athlete. The sky's the limit for Dean."
Winning his 2021 U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier (65, -7), Muratore headed to Bandon Dunes for the USGA event, however, missed the cut for match play. That same summer he tied for fourth at New York City Championship (72-71/143, -1); tied for eighth at Connecticut PGA Foundation Junior Open (74-71/145) and qualified for IKE MGA Amateur, missing the cut by one shot.
Solis, who was the 2023 Southern Texas PGA Junior Golfer of the Year, helped St. Augustine to three straight District titles (2020, '21, '22) and won medalist honors in 2022 after winning on the first playoff hole.
"Johnny is the epitome of a Michigan Man," said Barlow. "He is a leader and someone that everybody on the team can lean on for that role. He is a tireless worker that has that 'refuse to lose' mentality. I love that. I've been fortunate enough to watch Johnny get better and better the last four years and work his way to becoming an elite junior golfer. I have no doubt he will do the same at the collegiate level. I can't wait to coach him."
A Laredo, Texas native, Solis earned a pair of medalist honors to highlight the summer of 2023. First, he won the Prestige Tour's Alamo City Shootout (69-67/133, -9) and followed with a second win at Texas Masters/ IMG qualifier (66-63-33, -16). He added a top-five finish at the Victoria Preview as his 217 (+1) tied for fourth.
In the summer 2022, Solis won a pair of Prestige Tour events at the South Texas Showcase (74-69/143) and Billiard Factory Gobble (71-74/145), while adding third-place finishes at Clicgear Championship (74-74/148) and Lone Star Shootout (76-72/148). That summer he also tied for seventh at Boys Southern Texas Junior PGA (74-74/148) and was eighth at Fore! Challenge (76-72/148).
Barlow and Michigan will lose two Wolverines next season as Will Anderson and Jude Kim's eligibility will be exhausted.
Pronunciations
• Dean Muratore: "my'oor-ah-taw-ree"
• Johnny Solis: "SO-lees"
Players Mentioned
