Valdosta State University Men's Golf

Purvis has built on the Blazers strong history of success on the links as he has consistently seen his team finish among the top in the nation. The success under Purvis has manifested itself in many ways during his decade-long tenure with the Blazers, as he has coached six All-Americans, including one Jack Nicklaus Award winner, while his golfers won a total of 15 tournaments in his 12 seasons. Additionally, Purvis has coached his team to eight tournament titles over the years and has seen his squad finish lower than 41st in the national rankings only once in his first 12 seasons. Purvis showed his talent at building nationally competitive teams during the 2007-08 season as he recruited two players who would go on to earn All-America honors at the end of the year. His leadership led Valdosta State to the 2008 Notre Dame de Namur Invitational championship, the fourth time in his career that the Blazers had won a tournament. Additionally, a pair of Blazers claimed individual medalist honors a total of three times on the year. Brent Witcher, who went on to earn First Team All-America honors at the end of the season, claimed a pair of wins on the year at the NSU Shark Invitational and the NDNU Invitational while falling in a playoff for a third victory at the First Federal Southeastern Collegiate. Jason Flowers also earned a victory after rolling to an eight-under 208 at the Rollins Invitational. Joining Witcher in earning All-America status was Cole Willis, who was recognized as honorable mention All-America. Purvis led the Blazers to the fifth NCAA Regional bid in six seasons under his leadership and aided the team in finishing fourth at the Gulf South Conference championships. Purvis leadership helped Witcher gain greater noterity at the end of the year as the junior was one of only two NCAA Division II players selected to represent the United States in the Fuji Xerox U.S. vs. Japan Collegiate Cup. Likewise, Witcher also qualifed for the U.S. Amateur Championships after winning a qualifying event. Purvis ability to teach the game was again on display in 2008-09 as he helped Witcher to an All-America season. The Blazer success on the course continued as VSU finished first in a pair of tournaments, claiming the individual title at the AASU/Southbridge Pirate Invitational while losing in a scorecard playoff at the Dennis Rose Intercollegiate. VSU concluded the season by finishing fourth at the Gulf South Conference Championships before just missing the cut for the national tournament, finishing sixth at the NCAA South/Southeast Super Regional. Individually, the Blazers continued to add to the number of individual title won under Purvis as Witcher claimed two more individual titles with victories at the AASU/Southbridge Pirate Invitational and VSUs First Federal Southeastern Collegiate. He then capped off the year with the highest honor earned by a Blazer in Purvis seven seasons as he was named the winner of the Jack Nicklaus Award as the nations top NCAA Division II golfer. Witcher also earned first team All-Gulf South Conference and was named the leagues Player of the Year at the conclusion of the season while Cole Willis earned recognition to the All-GSC second team. As a team, Valdosta State finished the year ranked No. 7 nationally. With Witcher graduating, many expected a drop-off in 2009-10, but Purvis molded the remaining members of his team into a nationally Top 20 team led by All-American Chesley Gunn. The Blazers won two tournaments during the year, opening the year with a win at the Flagler Invitational before coming home in the Spring to win the First Federal Southeastern Collegiate. The 2010 Southeastern Collegiate also marked the second straight year that a Blazer won the prestigious event as Chad Smith shot a two-under 214 to claim medalist honors at the event while Gunn opened the year with a 213 to bring home the individual trophy at the Flagler event. Valdosta State followed up the year with a final national ranking of 31 during the 2010-11 season, during which Evan Hanna claimed All-Gulf South Conference honors. Meanwhile, his 2011-12 team continued the strong play and saw the year highlighted by Nate Anderson claiming the individual medalist honors at the Gulf South Conference Championship en route to being named All-GSC. Anderson returned in 2012-13 and once again was named All-Gulf South Conference while directing Purvis' squad to the NCAA South/Southeast Super Regional for the 11th straight year. The squad finished the year ranked 38th in the Golfstat.com rankings. The 2006-07 season proved to be one of VSUs most successful under Purvis as he led his squad to a 17th-place finish in the national rankings. The Blazers won the Coker Fall Preview during the fall of 2006 while his guidance helped a Blazer win a tournament three times, with Josh Tompkins winning the Coker Fall Preview while Jason Flowers claimed medalist honors at the AASU/Pirate Invitational and the Gulf South Conference Championship while losing the Buccaneer Invitational in a playoff. Purvis squad continued its run at NCAA glory as it reached an NCAA Regional bid and Flowers became the second Blazer to earn All-America recognition under Purvis. Purvis coached the Blazers to a 24th-place finish in the national rankings in 2005-06 while also receiving a NCAA Regional bid. Purvis direction led the Blazers and Tompkins to the Saint Leo Fall Preview team and individual titles during the season. The Blazers also reached NCAA Regionals in 2003-04 and 2004-05 while finishing those years ranked 24th and 32nd, respectively. Purvis recruiting ability led to his 2003 class being rated third nationally. Additionally, Spencer Provo qualified for the U.S. Amatuer in 2004. Valdosta State began Purvis tenure by winning the WCU Intercollegiate Team championship while Chris Erwin claimed the individual medalist honors during the 2002-03 season. Purvis tutelage also assisted Erwin in reaching the match play in the 2003 U.S. Amateur. In addition to the six All-America honorees, a Blazer has been named All-Gulf South Conference 21 times under Purvis. While Purvis tutelage has aided his team in succeeding on the links, he has also led his golfers to success off the golf course. In 2004, Brian Hurtak was named an GCAA All-American Scholar and was nominated for the NCAA Leadership Award, an honor that Kevin Dutkowsky also received in 2005. Dutkowsky was named a GCAA All-American Scholar in 2007 while Purvis squad won the Valdosta State Lamar Pearson Community Service Award for having the most combined community service hours of any VSU team. Purvis' emphasis on strong academics also manifested itself in 2011 as the GCAA recognized Evan Hanna as a All-America Scholar. In addition to his coaching duties, Purvis has also coordinated the First Federal Southeastern Collegiate, one of Division IIs most prestigious tournaments, in each of the last years at the school. He also coordinated the 2005 NCAA South/South Central Super Regional. Purvis also spent three years as a tournament administrative assistant and rules official with the Southeastern Junior Golf Tournament. He received his degree from Troy, where he was a four-year member of the golf team. He also spent two years as the team-elected captain for the Trojans.