GRAHAM, Va. -
The following is a press release from Bluefield College.
Graham High School golf standout Ben Taylor will be continuing his career on the links at the collegiate level.
On Thursday, February 23, on the GHS campus in front of family,
friends, coaches and the media, Taylor signed a letter of intent to join
Bluefield College and the Rams' golf squad, beginning fall 2012.
After a stellar career at Graham and on the Blue Ridge Junior Golf
Tour, Taylor will take his award-winning game to BC, just a few short
miles down the road from GHS and a place he has known and loved for
years.
"My father
(David Taylor) is a graduate of Bluefield College, my mother (Lisa
Taylor) attended BC, and my brother J.D. is currently a sophomore at
Bluefield," said Taylor. "So, not only is it an honor for me to attend
Bluefield College, but also a blessing to be able to continue playing
the only sport that I've ever truly enjoyed. I'm thankful to God, my
family, coaches and teammates for their support and encouragement over
the years."
While a
player for the varsity golf squad at Graham, Taylor earned All-District
honors three years in a row (two in the Southwest District and one in
the Mountain Empire District). He also served as the team's first seed
in both his junior and senior seasons.
"His on-course demeanor is what impressed me the most and how hard he
worked on his game," said Matt Dixon, head coach for golf at GHS. "He
really works out and spends a lot of time on the range, more than
anybody we have."
During his senior year, Taylor also led the G-Men to Virginia's Group A
Region C Tournament, where they won a sudden-death playoff to advance to
the Virginia High School League Group A State Tournament. There, Taylor
and his teammates finished third overall in the state.
"Ben has an outstanding golf game," said BC head golf coach Brian Hall.
"He is very consistent and a great ball striker. He is dedicated to
improving his game and those around him."
In addition to his high school golf accomplishments, Taylor has
qualified for numerous Blue Ridge Junior Golf Tour Tournament
Championships over the past four years. He actually won a Blue Ridge
Championship and earned BRJGT Player of the Year in 2009 and qualified
for the Virginia State Golf Association Junior Championship in 2010.
"Ben will bring a game that will put Bluefield College golf back on
track for conference championships," said Hall, "as well as the hope of a
possible National Championship."
Off the links, Taylor is an Honor Roll student at Graham High School
and an active member of Bundy's Chapel Baptist Church in Tazewell,
Virginia, where he has been involved in local mission and ministry
projects, as well as mission trips to Peru and New York City.
"We are truly blessed that Ben is coming to play at Bluefield College,"
said Hall. "He is a positive role model and leader. He is exactly the
type of person we are looking to recruit to come to Bluefield and
represent us."
Taylor plans on majoring in criminal justice at Bluefield College in
preparation for a career as a game warden. He will begin his golf career
with BC in September 2012 as the Rams begin their inaugural season as a
member of the Mid-South Conference, a Division I affiliate of the
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
"Lisa and I are truly blessed to be Ben's parents," said David Taylor.
"He's worked hard over the past several years to excel in golf, and we
are proud that he has chosen to attend our alma mater to further that
passion at the collegiate level."
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