Bellevue University in Nebraska added golf and tennis to its athletic arsenal for the 2011-12 academic year, and International Falls’ own Jeff Shermoen will play on the inaugural golf team.
A group of Shermoen’s family and friends, along with some of his teammates and former teachers were on hand Friday at Falls High School while the senior signed on to play for the NAIA program. Bruins head golf coach Rob Brown was also in attendance after making the 11-hour trip with his wife.
Shermoen, who will receive a full-ride scholarship, said the high level of coaching was one of the main reasons he chose the small college just outside of Omaha.
Brown has taught golf and been a golf professional for nearly 40 years. He spent the past year teaching golf in South America and working with PGA great Al Gieberger. He was the director and head golf professional at Wakonda Club in Des Moines from 1993-2004. He also served the same role at Minikahda Club in Minneapolis from 1978-1989. Most recently, Brown served as the Director of Instruction at Stone Eagle Golf Club in Palm Desert, Calif. from 2005-2009.
The women’s golf coach also has an impressive resume.
Shelly Hogan played at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, coached at her alma mater and was the head women’s golf coach at Wichita State University from 2003-04.
She’s been a member of the LPGA since 1993, is a certified professional golf club fitter and has taught golf schools in Alabama, Arizona, New Zealand, Sweden, Germany, Hawaii and California.
Shermoen has one potential teammate so far in John Matthews from Johannesburg, South Africa. Matthews became the first-ever recruit back in October.
