UW Adds Grad Transfer RJ Manke to Husky Family
SEATTLE –University of Washington men's golf head coach Alan Murray has announced the addition of RJ Manke for the 2021-22 season. The graduate transfer comes to Montlake after spending the last four seasons with the 2021 National Champions, Pepperdine. He'll join Justin Hopkins and Aidan O'Hagan as newcomers next season.
"We are extremely excited to have a player of RJ's caliber choose to come and be a part of our program," said Murray. "He has a very impressive record as a collegiate and amateur player and will instantly make our program better. RJ is also an excellent student, a great kid and comes from a family of Huskies. He's won multiple tournaments individually and obviously being part of Pepperdine's national championship along with their sustained success over the last few years. We know he will add great experience and that winning spirit and mindset that teams crave and we're really excited for him to get to UW and join our team."
Manke finished his Pepperdine career with a stroke average of 72.66 over 34 events which ranks 10th all-time in Waves history. He recorded two individual wins, eight top 10 finishes and 12 top 20 showings. As a sophomore, Manke won the individual title at the WCC Championships en route to being named to the All-WCC First Team and was an All-WCC honorable mention selection as a freshman. Off the course, Manke was a two-time WCC All-Academic First Team selection, received WCC Commissioner's Honor Roll 'silver' honors and a three-time Pepperdine Scholar-Athlete.
Most recently as a senior, Manke turned in four of his eight career top 10 finishes in nine events. He only finished outside of the top 20 four times and had a stroke average of 71.48. Manke finished tied for second at the Rustic Collegiate Classic, tied for third at the Southwestern Invitational and tied for ninth at the Western Intercollegiate. The Waves as a team won the Rustic and the Western Intercollegiate along with taking the team title at the WCC Championship before winning the 2021 National Championship.
Along with wining the conference championship in a playoff as a sophomore, Manke had a 72.35 scoring average over 12 events with four top 20 finishes. He won his first career title that season as well taking the Alister MacKenzie Invitational with a 54-hole record of 21-under 192. He also tied for 25th at the NCAA Austin Regional and tied for 53rd at the NCAA Championships. His 2-under 70 at the national championships was the Waves' best single-round score at the event that season.
Manke brought home All-WCC honorable mention honors as a freshman after averaging 74.04 in eight events. He also took seventh place at the WCC Championships in his first season and had five below-par rounds.
On the amateur circuit, Manke won the 2019 XCII Mexico Internacional Amateur and played in the 2019 and 2020 U.W. Amateurs, advancing to match play in 2020. He brought home the 2018 Washington State Amateur and played for Team Washington in the 2013, 2014 and 2014 Junior America's Cup. Manke finished in the top five three times at AJGA Open tournaments and competed at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championships, the IMG Junior Worlds and the Sahalee Players Championship.
Originally from Washington, Manke attended Bellarmine Prep and led the team to three 4A State championships and four league titles. He was the 2015 and 2016 Tacoma Athletic Commission Golfer of the year and had a senior-year scoring average of 71.03 while being named the class valedictorian.