Aug. 3, 2010

RUSTON - Incoming freshman Jack Lempke hasn't taken the first swing as an official member of the Louisiana Tech Bulldog golf team but his presence on the roster is already paying some dividends.

Lempke's high school swing coach Bruce Smith gave Louisiana Tech a plug recently in a CBS television special called "The Road to the PGA Championship."

The one-hour show highlights 8 to 10 PGA professionals who will be competing in the final major of the year - the PGA Championship which will be held Aug. 9-15 at Whistling Straights in Kohler, Wisconsin.

Smith qualified for the event and was one of the professionals that CBS highlighted during their pre-championship show. At part of the package on Smith, CBS featured his junior golf program at Brookhaven Country Club in Texas.

In the background of the interview, Lempke was shown - donned in his Louisiana Tech gear - hitting golf balls on the driving range. Towards the end of the interview, the announcers mentioned Lempke's success under Smith's tutelage and the fact he would be attending Louisiana Tech this fall.

Tech fans can watch the show when it is aired on the Golf Channel on Wednesday at 7 p.m., Thursday at 10 a.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. It will also be aired again next Tuesday (Aug. 10) at 4 p.m.

Lempke prepped four years at Frisco Wakeland High School in Texas where he helped lead the Wolverines to the District 9-4A title in 2007 and 2008 while also leading them to a runner-up finish at the State Preview 3A in 2008.

During the fall of his senior year, Lempke recorded three top 5 finishes and one title in four events while also recording seven top 10 finishes in 10 Legends Junior Tour Tournaments in 2009.

Lempke will be joining Jeff Parks and the Bulldog golf team this fall.