ELON, N.C. -- Elon University men's golf coach Bill Morningstar announced today the signing of seven golfers to National Letters of Intent to join the squad in the 2004-05 season. Michael Carnicelli (Burlington, Ontario, Canada), Lance Johnson (Gates Mills, Ohio/University School), Garrett Kachellek (Charlotte, N.C./Providence Day), Jimmy Lytle (Ocean Ridge, Fla./Pope John Paul II), Justin Newton (Elon, N.C./Western Alamance), Alex Retsch-Bogart (Chapel Hill, N.C./Chapel Hill) and Kyle Warren (Los Alamitos, Calif./Los Alamitos) have all committed to play for the Phoenix.

Carnicelli comes to Elon after attending Hillfield-Strathallan College where he served the school as a prefect. Carnicelli won the IJGT at Berkley Hall on the third playoff hole with a total score of 148 (73-75). He was named the Pine House Athlete of the Year his junior year of high school and was honored as the Hamilton Spector Athlete of the Week. Michael is the son of Fausto and Joyce Carnicelli.

Johnson was named to the All-Ohio Team in 2003 and 2002 as well as being named the most valuable player on his team and serving as team tri-captain. In 2003, he was the runner-up at the OHSAA Championship and was named to The Plain Dealer All-Star Team. Johnson led Dr. William O'Neil's University School team to a OHSAA Division II Championship in 2003 and a second-place finish in 2002. Lance is the son of Lance and Peggy Johnson.

Kachellek was a four-time all-conference selection while playing for Gil Murdock at Providence Day School. He helped lead his team to a state championship in 2001, a third-place finish in both 2000 and 2002 and a seventh-place finish in 2003. His 2001 team had the lowest handicap in NCISAA history. In 2002, at the U.S. Amateur Qualifier, he finished 11th in a field of 63 golfers with a final score of 142 (74-68). During the summer of 2003, Kachellek finished in a tie for first out of 132 golfers at the North Carolina Amateur Qualifier with a 68. At the U.S. Amateur Qualifier that same year, he finished in a tie for 21st with a 147 score (75-72). Garrett is the son of Jim and Jan Kachellek.

Lytle was named all-conference and all-area following both his junior and senior seasons. He was named a top-five player after his senior season by the Palm Beach Post. He set the amateur course record (64) at his home course, Pinetree Golf Club. At the USGA Junior Amateur Championship, he finished 30th in a field of 156 golfers. At the Doral/Publix Junior Championship he placed second in a field of 160 with a final score of 213 (69-72-72). He led his team to district and regional crowns his junior and senior seasons and helped the squad to a second-place finish his senior year. Jimmy is the son of Robert Carlson and Patricia Lytle-Carlson.

Newton was named the North State Conference Player of the Year in 2004 and 2003 and the Player of the Year Runner-up in 2002. In 2004, Joe Miciotto's Western Alamance team finished second in the NCHSAA 2-A State Championships while Newton placed in the top-10. In 2001 his squad claim the State Championships while placing fourth individually. Newton was awarded the 2004 Times-News Achievement of Academic and Vocational Achievement and graduated as a 2004 North Carolina Scholar Program receipient. Justin is the son of Dennis and Beth Newton.

Retsch-Bogart played four years of varsity golf at Chapel Hill High School for Joe Wolfe. He earned all-conference honors his sophomore and junior seasons. During his sophomore season, he finished as runner-up for conferency Player of the Year and in the top-25 iin the North Carolina 4-A State Finals. Alex is the son of George and Carol Retsch-Bogart.

Warren was a four-year letterwinner for John Haygood at Los Alamitos High School where he played as the number one golfer for three years. He was named First Team All-Sunset League his senior year and finished fourth in the league. He notched All-Sunset League honors his sophomore year and was named most valuable player his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. Warren was selected to be on the Principal's Honor Roll and was a scholar athlete. He was a part of the Who's Who Among American High School Students in 2001, 2002 and 2003. During the summer of 2003, he finished first in a field of 156 at the Long Beach Match Play Qualifier with a final score of 135 (64-71). Kyle is the son of John and Cindy Warren.

--ELON--