Nov. 21, 2008

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina men's golf coach John Inman announced the signing of two of the country's top golfers, Michael McGowan, from Southern Pines, N.C., and Clark Palmer, from Augusta, Ga.

"Both Michael and Clark are accomplished players, great students and will make an immediate impact on our golf program," says Inman. "We are extremely excited to have these young men wearing Carolina Blue next fall."

McGowan, from O'Neal High School in Southern Pines, finished 10th at the 2008 North and South Junior Amateur after being the runner-up in 2007. He advanced to match play at the 2006 U.S. Amateur as a 15-yar-old, was a quarter-finalist at the 2007 U.S. Junior and advanced to match play in 2008. In 2008, McGowan was the runner-up at the Mid Pines Junior, finished third at the AJGA Golf Pride Junior Classic and tied for third at the AJGA Cliffs Championship.

An all-state performer the last three years, McGowan captured the 2006 North Carolina 2A State Championship and was the runner-up in 2007 and 2008. McGowan comes from a golfing family and one with a Carolina twist. His father, Pat, plays on the Champions Tour, while his mother Bonnie (Bell), played for the Tar Heels in the late 70s. McGowan's grandmother, Peggy Kirk Bell, is a golfing legend and a member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.

Palmer, from the Academy of Richmond County High School in Augusta, finished in fifth place at the 2008 Georgia State Golf Association Junior Championship. He finished seventh at the 2007 Donald Ross Championship. Palmer finished fifth at the Bobby Chapman, finished 13th at the 2008 Golfweek Invitational and posted four top-10 AJGA finishes in 2008, including a tie for fourth at the AJGA Burgett H. Mooney Jr. Rome Classic and a sixth-place finish at the AJGA Club Car Junior.

Palmer finished fourth at the 2008 4A Georgia State Golf Championship while leading his team to the team championship. He is a three-time All-State selection and a member of the Georgia team that defeated South Carolina in the 2008 GA-SC Junior Challenge Match. Palmer's father, Fred, played for the Tar Heels in the late 70s while his brother, Wallace, is a senior on this year's Tar Heel squad.