A lengthy rehabilitation process for now-former Texas Longhorns golfer Beau Hossler hasn’t kept one of the world’s top amateur golfers from turning pro, the California native announced Thursday via Instagram.
Here's the Instagram post from @beauhossler announcing he's done with @UTexasGolf & has turned pro. #HookEm #PGA pic.twitter.com/qbTqzYRvK3
— Adam Winkler (@WinklerKEYE) July 7, 2016
Hossler suffered a torn labrum on the 15th of match play in the NCAA Semifinals in Oregon in early June, but managed to finish his round and help the ‘Horns advance:
Hossler initially shook off the injury and won the hole with a birdie to go 1-up in his match. On the next tee box at the par-3 16th hole, Hossler hit a 5-iron and immediately grabbed his shoulder in pain. Despite the pain, Hossler chipped in for birdie to go 2-up. Then on the next tee at the par-4 17th hole, he hit his drive and again doubled over in pain. His drive reached the right rough and Hossler received medical attention during an injury delay and had his shoulder taped.
He pushed on and hit a 6-iron from the rough that again caused unbearable pain in his shoulder, yet somehow the shot wound up in a greenside bunker. Unable due to the pain to attempt another swing, Hossler hit the bunker shot with a putter and sent the ball 25-feet past the cup. With Levitt facing a 10-foot putt for par (and trying to extend match play to the 18th hole), Hossler stepped up and drained the dramatic 25-footer for his par to end the match and send Texas to the NCAA Championship match.
However, Hossler wasn’t able to compete the following day against Oregon, forcing Texas to win three of the four remaining matches. In a miraculous performance, the ‘Horns nearly pulled it off before Taylor Funk fell to a Eugene native on the third playoff hole.
Overall, Hossler was spectacular in 2016, earning five medalist honors in 12 events (the third-most single-season wins in Texas golf history, leading the Longhorns with a 69.73 stroke average, and posting 29 of 37 rounds at or under par.
As a result, he earned a host of postseason honors, including the Fred Haskins Award and Big 12 Player of the Year. The PING All-American was also a Jack Nicklaus Award semifinalist.2016 All-Big 12
Best of luck to Hossler — even with his torn labrum, this is still the best decision for his professional future. And with the four other golfers who participated in the finals against the Ducks returning, the Longhorns should be a strong contender again in 2016, even without Hossler.