February 18, 2009

Osmon to lead Grizzly men's golf program

by Chris Day, Adams State Sports Information Director

ALAMOSA, Colo. -- One of the most recognizable golf names in Alamosa and Colorado history will be the head coach for the Adams State College men's golf team, which will resume play in the fall of 2009 after a 3-year hiatus.

Jay Osmon, a former Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Champion during his playing career with the Grizzlies, will be that man, ASC Athletic Director Larry Mortensen announced Wednesday.

"I'm excited for the program to be back," Osmon said. "My focus is to build a program that is not only competitive, but respected.

"Jay is passionate about men's golf and building our program," Mortensen said while noting Osmon, will be a volunteer coach until July 1.

The 32-year old Alamosa native, who has played professionally since 2001, had served as an assistant coach for the Grizzlies for four seasons from 2000-04 helping guide the Grizzlies to two RMAC titles and three NCAA regional tournament berths.

Osmon, who also works as the assistant professional at Cattails Golf Course since 2000, holds the course's single-round record of 56, known to be as the second best round in the history of the sport. Posting a 15-under par round on Sept. 7, 2007, Osmon equaled Homero Blancas, who fired a round of 55 on a par 70 course in 1962, for the best single-round score in relation to par.

Raised in Alamosa, Osmon was a Rolex Junior All-American while playing for the Alamosa High School Mean Moose. Winning individual state titles as a sophomore in 1992 and again as a senior in the fall of 1994, Osmon became just the fifth person to win the state tournament twice, quite a claim considering Colorado had only one high school classification for golf at the time.

Leading the Dave Taylor coached Mean Moose to a team title and a state record as a senior, Osmon took his golf talents to Colorado State University following his 1995 high school graduation.

Finishing as the runner-up for Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year honors while with the Rams during the 1995-96 season, Osmon also attended Wright State University in 1997-98 before playing for the Grizzlies during the 1999-2000 campaign.

Winning an RMAC title while helping lead the then Aaron Taylor coached Grizzlies to a second place finish at the conference champions and an NCAA regional berth, Osmon then turned to coaching, helping Dave Taylor, current Cattails Golf Course Professional Bryce Bervig and Cole Wasinger, all former ASC head men's golf coaches.

In the process, the Grizzlies won 2000 and 2001 RMAC Tournament Championships, held in the fall, and qualified for the regional tournament in the spring of 2001, 2002 and 2003.

Professionally, Osmon won numerous events on the Pepsi and Golden State Tours in Arizona and California and recorded several high finishes on the Phoenix-area based Gateway Tour, just one step behind the Nationwide Tour. He also claimed the prestigious Navajo Open title during the summer of 2007.

Osmon, a Titleist Staff Member, has also competed at the PGA Tour's Qualifying School twice and served as a seasonal professional at Ancala Country Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. in the spring of 2005 and 2006.

He plans to start the PGA's Golf Professional Training Program in the spring of 2010.

"I want to help my players grow in all areas and prepare them for a successful life after college," Osmon said.

"My main goal is to get to know my players and develop them not only in golf but for life in general. I want to help shape them into well-rounded human beings," he continued.

"Jay will make our players better. Having a professional player is a luxury that most of our competition won't have," Mortensen said.

On Dec. 31, 2006 Osmon married the former Maggie Whiteman, a Monte Vista native who played on the Grizzly women's golf team during the program's initial varsity season (2005-06). A twin with brother Joe, Osmon is one of five children born to Budd and Doris Osmon, who still reside in Alamosa.