UTEP Alum and PGA Tour winner J.P. Hayes will return to the 915 to join the men’s golf coaching staff as an assistant as announced by head coach Aaron Puetz on Friday.
Via UTEP Athletics
Hayes competed at UTEP from 1983-1987, earning All-Western Conference Athletic honors following his senior campaign. His final season was outstanding, finishing in the top 15 in eight of 15 tournaments. Hayes placed fourth in the Stanford Fall Invitational and sixth in the 1987 WAC Championships.
Following a successful career with the Miners, Hayes turned professional in 1989 and began play on the PGA Tour in 1992. Hayes won the 1998 Buick Classic and the 2002 John Deere Classic. He finished tied 19th at the 2000 PGA Championship. Hayes also won the Nike Miami Valley Open on the Nike Tour in 1996.
“There aren’t too many programs who have a PGA Tour Member and Winner on their coaching staff. JP brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team that will greatly benefit the Student-Athletes. J.P. is originally from Wisconsin, but after his playing career at UTEP he stayed in El Paso while competing on the PGA Tour. It shows how great our community and resources are here. We are so excited to add him to our staff, his impact has already been felt.”
The Appleton, Wisc., native was named the Wisconsin Amateur Player of the Year in 1988, while he twice won the Wisconsin state amateur title. In 1986, Hayes lost in the third round of the U.S. Amateur to eventual champion Buddy Alexander, the former LSU golf coach.
As a junior, Hayes finished second at the William H. Tucker Invitational, a tourney in which he scored in a hole-in-one during the third round.
