College Station, Texas. – Texas A&M men's golf head coach J.T. Higgins announced Friday the signing of a pair of standout golfers, Josh Gliege and Viraj Madappa, who will join the program in the fall of 2016.
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"We are so excited about this class," Higgins said. "We are adding two proven winners who should come in and contribute right away. They are both physically strong and mentally tough with sound fundamentals and technique in all facets of their games. On top of all that, they are fantastic young men. They have strong character, leadership abilities and both are excellent students who take care of their business off the course. We are proud to have Viraj and Josh on our team and as representatives of Texas A&M."
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Josh Gliege
6-0 • 188 lbs
Eagle, Idaho (Eagle High School)
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Quick Notes:
• Polo Golf Rankings (Class of '16):
         - No. 1 player in Idaho
         - No. 17 player in the U.S.
• Plays for Coach Jeff Dunn at Eagle High School
• 2015 Pacific Northwest Golf Association Player of the Year
• 2015 Idaho State Champion (5A)
• 2015 Pacific Northwest Golf Association Junior Champion
• 2014 & 2015 Dropping Amateur Invitational Champion
• 2015 Western Junior Championship – 3rd Place
• Four-timee All State 2012, 13, 14 and 15
• Qualified for US Junior Championship three times (2013-15)
• Qualified for Junior PGA Championship three times (2013-15)
• Eagle High School won Idaho State Championship all four years he was there (last six overall)
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Higgins on Gliege:
"With Josh, we are adding a big, strong, athletic player. He has a powerful golf swing that is fundamentally sound and has competed and won on a very high level. He comes from one of the premier high school programs in the Northwest, Eagle High and Coach Dunn where they have won the last six state championships. He knows what it takes to win both individually and as part of a team. Josh is a complete player with a strong work ethic, a good head on his shoulders and a great attitude. He is just a terrific young man and we are glad to have him join The Aggie Family."
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Gliege on Signing with Texas A&M:
"It just felt right, and I knew when I went down there in the summer to visit that I really liked it. I went back down over Thanksgiving break and met the team and all the other recruits who were committed. I fit in really well, and I have a great relationship with the coach. I didn't think I would find anywhere better."
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"They're a great program. They've won a national championship recently, and one of my things is I really want to go somewhere where I can go win (as a team). I think that I could do that at A&M."
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Viraj Madappa
6-2 • 187 lbs
Kolkata, India
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Quick Notes:
•World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR):
         - No. 72 amateur golfer in the world
• Polo Junior Golf Ranking:
         - No. 1 Player in India
         - No. 27 Player in the US (only played three tournaments in the US)
• Three-time India Junior Player of the Year (2012-14)
• No. 3 Ranked Amateur in India
• Member of Indian National Team (2015)
• Member of Indian National Junior Team (2012-14)
• 2015 Taiwan Amateur Champion
• Youngest player from India to play The Normura Cup (Asia Pacific Team Championship)
• Youngest player from India to play in The Asia Pacific Amateur
• 2015 Competed in Asia Pacific Open (Professional Tournament) as an amateur
• 2015 All India Junior Golf Champion – youngest winner ever
• 2015 Nick Faldo Asia Grand Finals – runner up
• 2015 Junior Invitational at Sage Valley – 4th Place
• 2015 Nepal Amateur Championship – 4th Place
• Won 22 Amateur & Junior Tournaments in India from 2010-14 (18 Junior, 4 Amateur)
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Higgins on Madappa:
"Viraj is one of the best junior golfers in the world. He has had amazing experiences competing around the globe from India, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand to right here in the USA. Viraj is a member of the Indian National Team and has played in the last three Asia Pacific Amateur Championships where the winner gets a spot in The Master's. He has great size to go with outstanding club head speed so he can absolutely bomb it. He also has nice touch around the greens and is a good putter. We love how he prepares, his commitment and work ethic. He is a complete player and we are thrilled to have him join the team."
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Madappa on Signing with Texas A&M:
"The decision to attend Texas A&M was easy. I had an instant connection with Coach Higgins and Coach Kortan, they make a great team. The guys on the team are competitive yet very friendly and the facilities are the best I have seen of all the colleges I visited. Texas A&M has a great undergraduate program as well. For me, there is just one place where I want to attend college – Texas A&M. I am excited to be part of this wonderful college."
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"We are so excited about this class," Higgins said. "We are adding two proven winners who should come in and contribute right away. They are both physically strong and mentally tough with sound fundamentals and technique in all facets of their games. On top of all that, they are fantastic young men. They have strong character, leadership abilities and both are excellent students who take care of their business off the course. We are proud to have Viraj and Josh on our team and as representatives of Texas A&M."
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Josh Gliege
6-0 • 188 lbs
Eagle, Idaho (Eagle High School)
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Quick Notes:
• Polo Golf Rankings (Class of '16):
         - No. 1 player in Idaho
         - No. 17 player in the U.S.
• Plays for Coach Jeff Dunn at Eagle High School
• 2015 Pacific Northwest Golf Association Player of the Year
• 2015 Idaho State Champion (5A)
• 2015 Pacific Northwest Golf Association Junior Champion
• 2014 & 2015 Dropping Amateur Invitational Champion
• 2015 Western Junior Championship – 3rd Place
• Four-timee All State 2012, 13, 14 and 15
• Qualified for US Junior Championship three times (2013-15)
• Qualified for Junior PGA Championship three times (2013-15)
• Eagle High School won Idaho State Championship all four years he was there (last six overall)
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Higgins on Gliege:
"With Josh, we are adding a big, strong, athletic player. He has a powerful golf swing that is fundamentally sound and has competed and won on a very high level. He comes from one of the premier high school programs in the Northwest, Eagle High and Coach Dunn where they have won the last six state championships. He knows what it takes to win both individually and as part of a team. Josh is a complete player with a strong work ethic, a good head on his shoulders and a great attitude. He is just a terrific young man and we are glad to have him join The Aggie Family."
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Gliege on Signing with Texas A&M:
"It just felt right, and I knew when I went down there in the summer to visit that I really liked it. I went back down over Thanksgiving break and met the team and all the other recruits who were committed. I fit in really well, and I have a great relationship with the coach. I didn't think I would find anywhere better."
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"They're a great program. They've won a national championship recently, and one of my things is I really want to go somewhere where I can go win (as a team). I think that I could do that at A&M."
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Viraj Madappa
6-2 • 187 lbs
Kolkata, India
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Quick Notes:
•World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR):
         - No. 72 amateur golfer in the world
• Polo Junior Golf Ranking:
         - No. 1 Player in India
         - No. 27 Player in the US (only played three tournaments in the US)
• Three-time India Junior Player of the Year (2012-14)
• No. 3 Ranked Amateur in India
• Member of Indian National Team (2015)
• Member of Indian National Junior Team (2012-14)
• 2015 Taiwan Amateur Champion
• Youngest player from India to play The Normura Cup (Asia Pacific Team Championship)
• Youngest player from India to play in The Asia Pacific Amateur
• 2015 Competed in Asia Pacific Open (Professional Tournament) as an amateur
• 2015 All India Junior Golf Champion – youngest winner ever
• 2015 Nick Faldo Asia Grand Finals – runner up
• 2015 Junior Invitational at Sage Valley – 4th Place
• 2015 Nepal Amateur Championship – 4th Place
• Won 22 Amateur & Junior Tournaments in India from 2010-14 (18 Junior, 4 Amateur)
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Higgins on Madappa:
"Viraj is one of the best junior golfers in the world. He has had amazing experiences competing around the globe from India, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand to right here in the USA. Viraj is a member of the Indian National Team and has played in the last three Asia Pacific Amateur Championships where the winner gets a spot in The Master's. He has great size to go with outstanding club head speed so he can absolutely bomb it. He also has nice touch around the greens and is a good putter. We love how he prepares, his commitment and work ethic. He is a complete player and we are thrilled to have him join the team."
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Madappa on Signing with Texas A&M:
"The decision to attend Texas A&M was easy. I had an instant connection with Coach Higgins and Coach Kortan, they make a great team. The guys on the team are competitive yet very friendly and the facilities are the best I have seen of all the colleges I visited. Texas A&M has a great undergraduate program as well. For me, there is just one place where I want to attend college – Texas A&M. I am excited to be part of this wonderful college."