ELON, N.C. – Elon University men’s golf head coach Don Hill has announced that three players will join the Phoenix program for the 2017-18 school year. Joining the program will be Dustin Blank (Elon, N.C./Burlington School), Graham Hutchinson (Dallas, Texas/Prosper High School) and Quade Lukes (Chapel Hill, N.C./Durham Academy).
“This is an exciting day for the Elon Men’s Golf Program,” said Hill. “The three young men who signed with the maroon and gold, Dustin, Graham and Quade, all represent what we stand for – academic and athletic integrity. You never want to wish time away but I’m awfully excited to get them on campus next fall.”
Blank earned three top-10 finishes during his junior golf career, including a first-place finish at the 2015 UNC Tar Heel Junior, a tie for sixth at the 2016 AJGA Junior at Cattail Creek, and a tie for eighth place at the 2016 USGA U.S. Amateur Qualifying tournament. Blank also earned top-20 finishes at the 2015 Charles Tilghman Junior and the 2016 CGA Carolinian Amateur. During his time at the Burlington School, Blank was also a three-time member of the All-State Team and a three-time member of the All-Conference Team in 2014, 2015, and 2016 and earned Triad All-Area Team honors in 2014. Blank earned the individual title 2014 NCISAA 1A Boys State Championship and also earned runner up finishes in 2015 and 2016. He led the Burlington School to two state titles in 2014 and 2015 and a runner-up finish in 2016. During his four-year career, Blank was the team captain for three seasons and was named the team’s Most Outstanding Player three times. Blank was a three-year varsity letterman at the Burlington School, a three-year honor roll student and a member of the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS).
“I am thrilled Dustin chose to be a part of the Elon Golf Program,” said Hill. “Dustin’s tireless work ethic and love of the game will propel him to great heights and help him achieve at the highest level.”
Hutchinson played his first three seasons of high school golf at Walt Whitman in Maryland before moving to Dallas to attend Prosper High School for his senior season. Hutchinson earned a runner-up finish at the 2016 Bart Granger Memorial, which included a career-low round of 64, in his most recent high school tournament in Texas. He also finished fourth at the 2016 AJGA EZ-GO Vaughn Taylor Championship during the summer.
While attending Prosper High School, he was a three-time All-Met First Team, a MPSSAA State Champion in 2014 and was a MPSSAA Scholar Athlete for three consecutive years. Hutchinson earned two individual titles, five finishes in the top-four and six top-10 finishes during his time in high school and on the junior tour. He earned individual championships at the 2014 Maryland High School State Championship and the 2014 Scott Robertson Memorial. Also, Hutchinson returned to the Maryland High School State Championship in 2015 and earned a runner-up finish, falling in a playoff. He also earned a second place finish at the 2014 AJGA Junior at Bethesda and finished eighth at the 2014 Callaway Junior World Championship.
“Graham Hutchinson is an accomplished young man both on and off the golf course,” said Hill. “Winning golf tournaments like the Scott Robertson show a high upside and projects very well to the collegiate level.”
A two-year team captain in 2015 and 2016, Lukes was a 2016 TISAC All-Conference selection, earned the Coaches’ Award in 2015 and was named the team MVP in 2016. He earned three top-15 finishes on the junior tour, finishing fifth at the Davis Love III Junior Open, 12th at the Golf Performance Center Junior Championship and tied for 13th at the E-Z-GO Vaughan Taylor Championship. During his career at Durham Academy, Lukes also finished fifth individually and lead Durham Academy to a first-place finish at the Palmetto High School Championships. He also tied for 18th while competing at the Wells Fargo Junior Classic.
“Quade Lukes possesses all of the tools to be a great college golfer,” explained Hill. “Speed and length are a must at the collegiate level and he has both. As Quade improves his wedges and short game, his scores will go lower and lower.”