Gaither golfer Stanger commits to Virginia

Posted Jun 5, 2012 by Jarrett Guthrie

Updated Jun 5, 2012 at 05:34 PM

Gaither golfer Jimmy Stanger said he has verbally committed to play at the University of Virginia in 2013.

Stanger was named the Tampa Tribune boys golf player of the year last month and is a three-time All-Hillsborough County first teamer.

Despite a 28th-place 2A state tournament finish, Stanger was outstanding through the regular season and post-season play in 2011. He crushed the field at Temple Terrace in the 2A-9 district tournament carding a 69, five strokes ahead of his nearest competitor. He followed a week later in the region tournament shooting a pair of birdies on his final two holes ending with a 1-under 71 and earning a qualifying spot for the state tournament.

Stanger said he was drawn to Virginia because of the school’s rich tradition as the oldest public university in America designed and founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819.

“I loved the school and it is an institution where I could go and excel academically,” Stanger said. “The biggest thing was the history behind the school with Thomas Jefferson founding it and the architecture is beautiful and it’s just a school with a great tradition and foundation.”

Stanger said he was impressed with the UVA facilities, including a 170-yard wedge facility and the Cavaliers head coach Bowen Sargent.

“The golf program is a top-20 program and is kind of underrated and is really on the rise,” Stanger said. “The golf coach there was another big reason I made the choice. I loved his personality, he’s calm and quiet, but a very strong coach and the facilities are some of the best I’ve ever seen.”