Beau Hossler turning pro, skipping senior season at Texas

Beau Hossler is turning pro after deciding to forgo his senior year at the University of Texas.

Hossler made the announcement on his Instagram account, saying in part, "After months of weighing options and discussing with my loved ones, I have decided to turn professional and forgo my senior year at The University of Texas. I have been preparing to become a professional golfer, and have dreamed of this day for more than ten years. I am blessed to have surrounded myself with some of the greatest people in the world. Without each one of their contributions, I would not be in this position today."

The 21-year-old thanked his original golf instructor, the late Jim Flick, as well current teacher Adam Porzak and Texas coach John Fields, among others, for their help in shaping his game. Hossler also thanked his Texas teammates for "pushing me day in and day out."

After months of weighing options and discussing with my loved ones, I have decided to turn professional and forgo my Senior year at The University of Texas. I have been preparing to become a professional golfer, and have dreamed of this day for more than ten years. I am blessed to have surrounded myself with some of the greatest people in the world. Without each one of their contributions, I would not be in this position today. My instructor, Jim Flick, who passed just a few years ago, provided me with the sturdiest of golf foundations, and his words still stick in my head on a daily basis today. My current instructor, Adam Porzak, has spent countless hours and sleepless nights trying to help me to be the best I can be. Dr. Jay Brunza has helped to shape my mental game into my greatest strength. Dr. Joseph Zappala and Coach Ryan Steenberg have provided me with an understanding of where my body has been, is now, and will be in the future. Santa Margarita Catholic High School provided a perfect stepping stone for my college career that would unfold at Texas. If I told you about all my experiences at Texas, it would take about a month. My teammates during these three years are some of the most special golfers I've seen, but more importantly, they are some of the highest character people I've been around. Their playing records speak for themselves as golfers, but the most impressive parts are those that you don't see on paper. Thank you guys for pushing me day in and day out. You are the most competitive and gutsy group I have had the pleasure of being around. Coach Fields has been an incredible asset in my life the past three and a half years, since I stepped on campus. He has treated me and my teammates like his own sons, and cares about our careers at and after Texas as if they were his own. Coach Fields, thank you for giving me the opportunity to come to UT. Coaches Jean Paul Hebert and Ryan Murphy, thank you for being there for me and pushing me. Dr. Randa Ryan, Kat Hastings, Dr. Allen Hardin, Gabe Perlaza, and Trey Zepeda, thank you for keeping my mind straight in the classroom and my body prepared for competition.

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A photo posted by Beau Hossler (@the_beau_show_) on Jul 7, 2016 at 3:14pm PDT

Hossler made his decision about a month after his junior collegiate season came to a dramatic end in the semifinal round of the men's NCAA golf championship. Hossler suffered a torn labrum, finishing out the match despite being unable to hold on to the golf club all the way through impact. There was an expectation that Hossler would turn pro pre-injury, and he had an exemption into the John Deere Classic. Hossler, who won the prestigious Haskins Award this year after a five-win season, will not be able to take up the exemption as he'll be out of action until the fall.