WICHITA - Head coach Grier Jones will welcome two additions to next season's Shocker men's golf team. On Thursday, Jones announced Matt Helms of Oklahoma and Calvin Pearson of South Africa signed National Letters of Intent to play golf for the Shockers beginning with the 2010-11 season.

“I’m really excited to have Matt and Calvin join the program," Jones said. "They’re both quality young men who will come in and work hard from day one.”

Matt Helms

An Edmond, Okla., native, Matt Helms will come to Wichita from Edmond Santa Fe High School. He competed in the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) and on the Oklahoma Junior Golf Tour (OJGT).

“Matt’s an incredible competitor with a good short game," Jones said. "He’s eager to learn in order to get better and will push everyone around him to do the same.”

In 2009, Helms averaged a 72.90 on the OJGT while picking up two top-three finishes on the tour. The first of those finishes came at the Fairfax Fall Classic, where Helms placed second after posting a 147 (76-71). The second occurred at the Kickingbird Fall Junior Challenge, where Helms placed third (71-71--142).

At the 2009 Oklahoma Junior Boys Championship, Helms placed fifth in stroke play (72-74--146). In match play, he was defeated in the semi-final by current Shocker Hunter Sparks.

In 2008, Helms shot back-to-back rounds in the 60s to win the OJGT Lake Hefner Shootout (68-68--136). He also collected a fifth-place finish at the OJGT Tour Championship (69-75--144).

Helms is the son of Scott and Jill Helms and the older brother of Holly (6). He is currently undecided on a major.

Calvin Pearson

Pearson heads to Wichita from his hometown of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - South Africa where he attended Durban High School.

“Calvin’s enjoyed some success in South Africa and has a tremendous work ethic," Jones said. "He’s someone who really appreciates the opportunities golf has given him and will work tirelessly to improve in any way he can.”

In 2009, Pearson captained the KwaZulu-Natal Under 18 Provincial Team while racking up three first-place finishes and one second place mark. Pearson took the title at both the South African Under 18 Match Play Plate Championship and the KwaZulu-Natal Under 18 Match Play Championship. He won his third championship of the year at the KwaZulu-Natal Men's Amateur Match Play Qualifier (70-68--138).

In the previous year, Pearson was a member of both the South African Under 18 National Team, which competed in the South Africa Triangular Cup, and the KwaZulu-Natal Under 18 Provincial Team. He claimed the title at the 2008 KwaZulu-Natal School Championships. In 2007, Pearson won the KwaZulu - Natal Under 18 Match Play Championship.

Pearson is the son of Garth and Amanda Pearson and the younger brother of Taynee, who plays collegiate golf for the University of Louisiana-Monroe. He plans to major in exercise physiology.