Nov. 18, 2008

Champaign, Ill. - Illinois golf coach Mike Small announced the signing of two more top in-state players Tuesday. Jonathan Hauter from Peoria Christian High School and Ross Frankenberg from Barrington High School signed national letters of intent to play for Illinois starting next fall. The duo joins a young Illini team that has risen to as high as no. 1 and now sixth in the nation.

Frankenberg is ranked no. 51 in the nation according to the Polo Rankings and is the highest ranked junior player in the state. He claimed the title at the Illinois PGA Boys Championship while placing fourth at the Illinois Junior PGA Championship. He also had a pair of runner-up finishes in major American Junior Golf Association Championships - at the AJGA Midwest Junior Players Championship and the Aurora Junior Championship. Frankenberg was named the 2007 Illinois Junior Golf Association Player of the Year after winning the USGA Junior Amateur qualifier and the Chick Evans Junior Amateur Championship at Steeple Chase Golf Club, where he shot a course record round of 63.

His signing gives Illinois the top two finishers at the 2007 IHSA Class 3A Championship as Frankenberg placed second to current Illinois freshman Luke Guthrie of Quincy. Frankenberg is a three-time state qualifier, placing 18th at state as a sophomore and third at this year's event, just two strokes out of the title. He helped Barrington to back-to-back top-five finishes in 2006 and 2007. This season, Frankenberg also won six invitationals while playing for the Broncos. He has been named to the "Great Midwest Golf Team" and All-Mid Suburban League for four years and All-State as a both a junior and senior.

Hauter's signing, meanwhile, gives Illinois all three 2007 state champions. He claimed the 1A title with a state record low score of 137 while current Illini freshman Mason Jacobs of Massac County won in 2A and Guthrie in 3A. Hauter tied for third at this year's state tournament, helping Peoria Christian to sixth in the team race and tied for second behind Jacobs individually in the Class A meet as a sophomore. He also was in the line-up in 2005 as PCHS won the Class A state title.

Like Frankenberg, Hauter has had success in AJGA events, placing 11th at the John Deere Junior Classic and 11th at the Cliffs Championship.

"Both Ross and Jonathan bring the talent, dedication and discipline to our program that we look for in all of our players," said Illinois head coach Mike Small. "They bring a passion to compete that's going to fit in great with our team. They see the strong commitment that everyone in our program has to win a national championship and I expect them to share in that commitment and have an impact on Illinois golf before they leave. The foundation they've established in their games is going to help us be a better team."