By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Farmville, Va.---Brandon Hoelzer, who led the Owens Community College men's golf team to back-to-back top 10 finishes at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II national tournament, has signed with NCAA Division I Longwood University.

"Brandon has experienced much success as a college player already, so the transition to our squad should be quite simple for him," said Longwood head men's golf coach Kevin Fillman via LongwoodLancers.com. "He's been well-rewarded for his efforts at the junior college level, despite playing in the less-than-ideal Ohio weather the past two springs. Brandon has come through in some highly pressure-packed situations, both individually and for his teams, a very high percentage of the time.  I expect him to be somebody we count on heavily throughout the final two years of his career."

As a sophomore, Hoelzer finished a stellar two-year career by participating in 27 tournaments with an 18-hole average of 74.5 strokes. Following the season, he was named First Team All-Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC), OCCAC Player of the Year, First Team All-Region XII, Region XII Player of the Year, PING All-East Region, PING First Team All-American, the team MVP and the Owens Male Athlete of the Year. 

In OCCAC play, Hoelzer averaged 74.3 strokes per 18 holes and finished in first place individually. He won the Region XII tournament with rounds of 69-68-76. In his 27 tournaments, he shot below 70 three times, including twice at the Region XII tournament. He medaled five times overall.

As a freshman, Hoelzer earned First Team All-OCCAC, First Team All-Region XII, Region XII Player of the Year, Ping Honorable Mention All-American and NJCAA D-II Honorable Mention All-American honors.

Prior to coming to Owens, Hoezler was the Three Rivers Athletic Conference (TRAC) Player of the Year, a district champion and state tournament qualifier as a senior at Fremont Ross High School in Fremont, Ohio.

The Owens Community College men's golf team was ranked No. 1 in the nation at the NJCAA Division II level for the majority of this past season. They captured their second straight OCCAC championship, OCCAC Ryder Cup championship, Region XII championship and berth in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament, where the team finished fifth.

Longwood University, a member of the Big South Conference, is led by 17th year head coach Kevin Fillman. The team will return five lettermen who will join Hoelzer and two other signees.