Pirates Sign Three North Carolina Prep Golfers
November 18, 2016 | Men's Golf
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Three North Carolina high school golfers: Tim Bunten (Concord), Stephen Carroll (Concord) and Jimbo Stanley (Raleigh) have each signed a National Letter-of-Intent with East Carolina University, head men's golf coach Press McPhaul announced Friday.
"Adding three young men the caliber of Tim, Stephen and Jimbo is an exciting day for our program," McPhaul said. "They share good fundamentals and talent with a desire to develop their skills and a desire to compete. They have had great success as individuals and as a part of their teams.
"As North Carolinians, they know East Carolina and they chose us in part because of what we stand for and because of what we are working to accomplish. We are thankful they wanted to be a part of the work we are doing here."
As a junior at Cannon School, Bunten led his team to the 2016 North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association (NCISAA) championship and the Charlotte Independent School Athletic Association (CISAA) tile, while also claiming medalist honors at the CISAA. He also qualified for the 2016 U.S. Junior Championships as well the N.C. Amateur and Carolinas Amateur Championship events.
"Tim has showed continuous and fast improvement, especially over the past two years," McPhaul said. "He's a brilliant student. He has shown a special ability to analyze his game and build and implement a plan to improve and attack a golf course. I appreciate the way he approaches the game. He's a dogged competitor and we value that in a big way." Â
A student at Concord High School, Carroll is a three-time All-South Piedmont 3A Conference player who led his team to the Midwest Regional last season. Earlier this year he finished second at the NCJGF Irish Fall Classic and fourth at the North & South Junior Championship. As a sophomore he finished third at the NCHSAA 3A Championships.
"Stephen has an eye catching game," McPhaul explained. "He's got a fantastic natural tempo and rhythm. His level demeanor is going to be an asset for him in competition throughout college. I've been proud of how he has worked hard to develop a great competitive mindset. As he continues that work, he is set up for great success in college golf."
Named an all-state golfer by the Carolinas Golf Association, Stanley helped Broughton High School finish in the top-3 at each of the last three state 4A championships, winning the title in 2014. He was named the recipient of the prestigious Tar Heel Golf Foundation Stuart Taylor Sportsmanship Award in 2015. Stanley captured the 2015 Tar Heel Golf Foundation Golf Pride championship that same year, while finishing in the top-5 at the Donald Ross Junior Golf Championship.
"Jimbo is a great all-around athlete," McPhaul stated. "I have been pleased and excited for him as he has returned to high school basketball for Broughton here in his senior season. His passion clearly is golf, and he has enjoyed a great success in the junior ranks. He's got good fundamentals and he's powerful. Possibly his best trait is an excellent positive demeanor. All three of those things are going to be great assets to him in his development as a Pirate."
The trio will join the East Carolina men's golf program prior to the start of the 2017-18 season.
"Adding three young men the caliber of Tim, Stephen and Jimbo is an exciting day for our program," McPhaul said. "They share good fundamentals and talent with a desire to develop their skills and a desire to compete. They have had great success as individuals and as a part of their teams.
"As North Carolinians, they know East Carolina and they chose us in part because of what we stand for and because of what we are working to accomplish. We are thankful they wanted to be a part of the work we are doing here."
As a junior at Cannon School, Bunten led his team to the 2016 North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association (NCISAA) championship and the Charlotte Independent School Athletic Association (CISAA) tile, while also claiming medalist honors at the CISAA. He also qualified for the 2016 U.S. Junior Championships as well the N.C. Amateur and Carolinas Amateur Championship events.
"Tim has showed continuous and fast improvement, especially over the past two years," McPhaul said. "He's a brilliant student. He has shown a special ability to analyze his game and build and implement a plan to improve and attack a golf course. I appreciate the way he approaches the game. He's a dogged competitor and we value that in a big way." Â
A student at Concord High School, Carroll is a three-time All-South Piedmont 3A Conference player who led his team to the Midwest Regional last season. Earlier this year he finished second at the NCJGF Irish Fall Classic and fourth at the North & South Junior Championship. As a sophomore he finished third at the NCHSAA 3A Championships.
"Stephen has an eye catching game," McPhaul explained. "He's got a fantastic natural tempo and rhythm. His level demeanor is going to be an asset for him in competition throughout college. I've been proud of how he has worked hard to develop a great competitive mindset. As he continues that work, he is set up for great success in college golf."
Named an all-state golfer by the Carolinas Golf Association, Stanley helped Broughton High School finish in the top-3 at each of the last three state 4A championships, winning the title in 2014. He was named the recipient of the prestigious Tar Heel Golf Foundation Stuart Taylor Sportsmanship Award in 2015. Stanley captured the 2015 Tar Heel Golf Foundation Golf Pride championship that same year, while finishing in the top-5 at the Donald Ross Junior Golf Championship.
"Jimbo is a great all-around athlete," McPhaul stated. "I have been pleased and excited for him as he has returned to high school basketball for Broughton here in his senior season. His passion clearly is golf, and he has enjoyed a great success in the junior ranks. He's got good fundamentals and he's powerful. Possibly his best trait is an excellent positive demeanor. All three of those things are going to be great assets to him in his development as a Pirate."
The trio will join the East Carolina men's golf program prior to the start of the 2017-18 season.
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