The Missouri State men's golf team has signed three high school standouts to continue their careers as Bears beginning in the 2016-17 school year. Head coach Neal Stafford has announced the addition of Sam Holmes of Springfield, Mo.; Lukas McCalla of Topeka, Kan.; and Christopher Obert of Ozark, Mo. to his roster.

Sam Holmes...Springfield, Mo....Glendale H.S.
The top-rated senior in Missouri by the American Junior Golf Association and ranked third by National Junior Golf Scoreboard, Holmes helped lead his Glendale team to a third-place finish at the state tournament as a junior. This past summer, he finished second at the AJGA's Bass Pro/Payne Stewart Junior Championship, third at the Trusted Choice Big I state qualifier and fifth at the PGA Junior Series event in Nebraska. He also placed 23rd at the AJGA Lockton Kansas City Junior.

"Sam has really progressed over the last several years with his golf game," said Stafford. "He has a very fundamentally sound golf swing and is a fierce competitor. I feel Sam will be in the mix from the start next fall."

Lukas McCalla...Topeka, Kan....Washburn Rural H.S.
McCalla was a first team all-state performer as a junior and a member of the Class 6-A state championship team at Washburn Rural. He captured the Kansas Junior Amateur this past summer and also placed 11th at the AJGA UnderArmour/Gary Woodland Championship. He's the third-ranked senior in the state according to the AJGA and fourth by NJGS. He is the nephew of PGA and Champions Tour winner Kirk Triplett.

"Lukas has shown the ability to put together some great rounds at key moments in big events," Stafford said. "He has great length and is an exciting player to watch navigate his way around the golf course. He is a great athlete and I expect him to have an immediate impact on our team."

Christopher Obert...Ozark, Mo...Glendale H.S. A high school teammate of Holmes, he was a key member of Glendale's third-place team at the state tournament. He was medalist at the Springfield Public Schools Invitational and the Carthage Sonic Invitational last season while earning all-district and all-conference honors. Obert also was a semifinalist at the Missouri Junior Match Play and a member of the state Match Play Junior Cup Team.

"I am very honored to have Christopher joining the team next fall," said Stafford. "He has an extremely high golf IQ and shows incredible demeanor while he competes. His knowledge of his own game and ability to persevere are impressive to watch."