 December 16, 2007--UNLV junior men's and Las Vegas golfer Seung-su Han, who became the first college golfer to ever advance to the PGA Tour's Qualifying Tournament finals, has announced that he will not turn professional and will remain a student-athlete at UNLV. By advancing to the final stage, Han earned conditional status on the Nationwide Tour. He had 10 days after the final round to decide whether he would remain an amateur player or turn professional. By remaining an amateur, Han forfeited his Nationwide Tour status. "I love it here at UNLV and I still think there is a lot more I can learn here," said Han. For more ...
"By coming back and remaining in school and spending more time here, I feel that I can become even more ready by the time I turn pro. That was a big thing for me, that I want to be more ready for when I am out there (professionally) and I obviously think UNLV is a great place for that." The UNLV Golf program's home golf course is Southern Highlands Golf Club, but they also play and practice at many of the best Las Vegas golf courses.  UNLV Head Coach Dwaine Knight commented that it is just another piece of evidence at how successful the UNLV golf program is in turning out professional golfers. And he also commented that Han received national exposure on the Golf Chaneel, CBS Sports and ESPN in addition to several newspapers for being the first college golfer to compete in the final stage. Recently, a new rule was enacted to allow golfers to attempt to earn PGA Tour status without losing amateur status, and Han was the first to almost take full advantage of the opportunity.
Han, who is originally from Incheon, South Korea, started the tournament in the prequalification stage at Cypresswood Golf Club in Spring, Texas, Sept. 18-21, where he finished second at 20-under par. During first-stage play in Dayton, Nev., at Dayton Valley Country Club, Oct. 23-26, Han finished tied for first at 16-under. Han then finished seventh during the second stage in Beaumont, Calif., at Oak Valley Golf Club, Nov. 14-17, at 11-under. He finished 149th at 5-over during the final stage at Orange County National Golf Center in Winter Garden, Fla., Nov. 28-Dec. 3. Han, who was named the Mountain West Conference's Men’s Golfer of the Month for September and the Co-Golfer of the Month for October, leads UNLV in scoring average with 68.33. He has played in three collegiate tournaments this season and has finished in the top 13 in all three. He has recorded eight rounds of par-or-better golf over his nine total rounds this season and his best finish of the year was a team-best second-place showing at the Shoot-out at Angel Park in September. Han turned in the squad's lowest round of the season in relation to par with a 7-under 65 at the Turtle Bay Intercollegiate in November.
UNLV will open the spring season on Jan. 28-29, at the PING Arizona Intercollegiate at Arizona National Golf Club in Tucson, Ariz.
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