Troxler signs with Louisiana

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast golfer Colin Troxler has signed a scholarship to continue his collegiate career at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

"It's been a day I've been looking forward to a while, signing with a D-I school," Troxler said. "I can't wait to get over there, but we've got to finish off this year strong."

Troxler, a sophomore from Luling, La., was named to the PING All-Freshman team, making him one of the top five golfers in his class in the country last year. He also earned second-team NJCAA All-American honors.

"He's one of those guys you can count on the heat of battle," Gulf Coast coach Tommy Snell said. "He's a bona fide Bulldog. The bigger the tournament, or the bigger the problems or the mishaps he's faced, the more he showed up. You can't teach that kind of stuff."

Troxler finished second in four events last year, including the Region 23 Championship. That performance helped Gulf Coast win its ninth straight region title.

The Bulldogs finished fourth at the NJCAA Division II National Championship and are ranked third in the Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll.

Troxler finished third in one of two tournaments he played in this fall before missing the rest of the events because of a wrist injury.

The Ragin' Cajuns golf coach is Theo Sliman. In seven seasons, three Louisiana golfers have advanced to the NCAA Regionals and the team qualified in 2012.

"I wanted to go there out of high school," Troxler said. "Going there coming out of here, it just feels like home. It's back in Louisiana where I'm from. I had comfort there when I went on my visit."

Snell said Troxler has been a great captain this year, and the respect is mutual.

"Coach Snell has done so many things to teach me in so many ways," Troxler said. "It's probably the best decision I've ever made was to come here and learn from him and everybody here. All my teachers and professors, they've taught me so many things I can take into real life." 

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