ROCHESTER, Mich. - Oakland Athletics has announced Former Men's Golfer
Jake Kneen as an inductee into the Hollie L. Lepley Hall of Honor as a part of the class of 2025.
"I was in disbelief when I heard I was going to be inducted, and I still find it hard to believe. It is just such an honor and I love Oakland and I just am incredibly grateful. It is definitely one of my greatest accomplishments," said Kneen.
A native from White Lake, Mich., Kneen credits Oakland for being the place that gave him the confidence to play at a high level, despite not being highly recruited. Having gone to The International Academy-West, a very good high school in academic standards, Kneen said the fact that Oakland offered his major of Biomedical Sciences, while also giving him a chance to golf, was a perfect match.
"I chose Oakland because as I was not highly recruited out of high school, I was extremely grateful to have an opportunity to play golf at the Division I level," said Kneen. "I grew up so much in my undergraduate time at Oakland, and I really became more of an adult. I learned the level of work ethic that it takes to be successful at the highest levels, and I learned so much about leadership, particularly from Coach Pumford."
A golfer from 2014 to 2018 at Oakland, Kneen is one of the most accomplished golfers to ever sport the black and gold. His accomplishments include being named the Horizon League Freshman of the Year (2015), Conference Player of the Year (2018), three time All-League Team member, and a four time Horizon League Honor Roll member.
Along with his player of the year nod, during his senior year Kneen registered the fifth best season stroke average (72.70) in program history.
"My favorite memory is winning Horizon League player of the Year in my senior year. It was such a culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication. It also meant a lot for Coach Pumford to win Coach of the Year that year," said Kneen.
During his amazing career, Kneen stamped his name all over the Oakland record book. He has the third highest career stroke average (74.28), as well as two of the lowest 54-hole tournament scores and a pair of the lowest conference championship scores in program history, ranking top ten in both categories multiple times. He is also one of just four golfers since 2015 to win a tournament individually, taking home first place in the CSU Invitational in 2017.
Kneen will be honored at the 2025 Hall of Honor Induction Ceremony on Saturday, Feb 8., 2025 in the Oakland Center Ballrooms.
Tickets for the ceremony can be purchased HERE.
