Aug. 8, 2008

SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University head men's golf coach Robert Gray announced Friday the addition of Community Colleges of Spokane transfer Jason Azzarito to the program this fall.

Azzarito, a native of nearby Kettle Falls, Wash., finished tied for third in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges tournament as a sophomore in May, firing a 72-68 for a 36-hole total of 140 in helping the Sasquatch to fourth place in the 12-team field. He was also named an NWAACC and Eastern Region All-Star. He won the Bigfoot Invite in 2008 and was also team captain and team medalist.

As a freshman at CCS he finished tied for 15th in the NWAACC tourney at 158 after winning the Eastern Region medalist honors by 11 strokes. CCS finished fourth in the NWAACC field.

A multi-sport athlete at Kettle Falls High, he capped his high school career by being a Northeast A League first-team pick in football and basketball, earning league MVP honors in the latter. He finished second in the Washington State Class A Golf Tournament and was named the league MVP, giving him four Top-10 finishes at State. The Spokesman-Review named him the basketball Co-MVP in the Northeast A League.

His junior year of 2005 he won the State golf title on the second extra hole and was a first-team Northeast A League selection in football, basketball and golf.

He finished eighth in the state tournament in golf as a sophomore after placing seventh as a freshman. In 2004 he was a second-team All-Northeast A League pick in basketball.

Azzarito was a high school National Honor Society selection and was a two-time All-NWAACC Scholar-Athlete.

"Jason will be an excellent addition to our program," Gray said. "He brings excellent credentials at both the high school and junior college level, and also has experience at the junior golf level."

Azzarito will help fill the void left by the transfer of Nebraska native Brandon Crick.