Rice Golf Announces Signing Class
11/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Nov. 15, 2010
2010-11 Rice Golf Early Signing Class Capsules
Rice University golf coach Drew Scott has announced the Owls have signed three to National Letters of Intent during the NCAA's Early Signing Period.
The signing class consists of Joe Beck III, Ryan Benevides and Tommy Economou.
Beck, a native of Austin, attends Lake Travis High School. He is a two-time Austin City Junior Champion (2008, 2009). Earlier this year he placed second at the Bart Granger Memorial Championship. He also recorded Top 10 finishes this year at the Texas Junior Golf Tour's UT Invitational and George Hannon Invitational as well as the Starburst Junior Classic.
"We are very excited to have Joe join the Rice Owls' golf team next season," Scott said. "His improvement over the past few years has been outstanding and should continue once he steps foot onto campus in 2011."
Benevides is from Bermuda and attends IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla.
His amateur career includes runner-up finishes at the 2010 Ross Blackie Talbot Junior International Classic and the 2010 Future Collegians World Tour Plantation Inn Open. He also posted Top 10 finishes at the FCWT World Woods Pine Barrens as well as the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour's Tamp Bay Junior Open and the IMG Academies Junior Open.
"Ryan brings years of international and amateur experience to Rice and should contend for a spot in the line up immediately," Scott said. "His dedication to the game with hard work and time management will be extremely useful in his growth as a student-athlete."
Economou, a native of Hillsborough, Calif., attends Burlingame High School in the San Francisco Bay Area.
He finished fourth at the 2009 Oakland City Championship and ninth at the Santa Cruz City Open. He posted a pair of Top 10 Finishes on the Future Collegians World Tour earlier this year.
"Tommy is very excited to become an Owl, getting onto the course and competing at the collegiate level," Scott said. "His game has shown signs of greatness and with his experience playing in numerous amateur events, he will be ready to play next fall."
Rice has already concluded its 2010 fall season. The Owls return to competition in February, beginning with the Oak Hills Invitational in San Antonio (Feb. 14-15). The 11th Annual Rice Intercollegiate presented by Srixon is slated for Feb. 21-22 at Westwood Golf Club.
