APSU Sports Information
Clarksville, TN – When Kirk Kayden took over Austin Peay State University’s golf program in 2004, he inherited Yoshio Yamamoto, who became a three-time All-Ohio Valley Conference golfer.
Now Kayden has gone south of the border to sign Yamamoto’s protégé, with the addition of Luis Navarrete, of Guadalajara, Mexico, for the 2014-15 season.
He finished 2013 as 11th ranked in the Mexican National Junior Golf Rankings.
The 5-10, 165-pound news Govs finished second at the Mexican Junior Golf Association (MJGA) Callaway Championship, showing the ability to go low in the first round (67). He also captured the Las Lomas Match-Play competition. Competing against professionals, he finished 27th in the PGAM Samsung-Telecel last August with rounds of 72-73-75 at the Santa Anita Club.
In 2012, Navarrete finished fifth at both the Santa Anita Open and the Mexican National Junior Interzonals and 10th at the Mexican National and International Junior Championships while capturing the MJGA Tour Championship in Tampico, Mexico, with scores of 70-72.
In 2011, Navarrete was ranked No. 6 among Mexican juniors in the 14-15 division while being ranked second in that division on the MJGA Tour. He was a quarterfinalist at the International Junior Masters in East Aurora, NY, championship flight. He tied for 17th (74-75-76) at the U.S. Kids Golf Teen World Championship, in Pinehurst, NC.
“I really feel Luis is the type of player that could come in and contribute right away,” said Kayden. “He has all the tools to be a good player for Austin Peay.
“Luis brings a lot of national and international experience to Austin Peay golf.”
APSU loses three key seniors—OVC Golfer of the Year Marco Iten, four-time All-OVC selection Anthony Bradley and Trey Tarpley—from the 2013-14 team. Navarrete joins fall signee Justin Arens, of Westerville, Ohio, as members of the Govs’ 2014-15 recruiting class.
