STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The first men's golf team at Tarleton in almost 30 years is now complete. The Texans announced Wednesday they have added their eighth and final member to the 2022-23 roster, Takafumi Shimoji.
 
Shimoji, originally from Okinawa, Japan, played the last three years at Kennesaw State, averaging a 73.9 career round score.
 
"I'm excited to have Taka be the final addition to the program, he played at a very high level the past three seasons at Kennesaw State," head coach Chance Cain said. "He is a very consistent player and brings the competitive experience that we are looking for to begin this first year on the right path."
 
Shimoji played in six tournaments last season for the Owls. In his first three events, he finished under-par twice, +3 or better in all three. He finished second out of 66 players at the Pinetree Intercollegiate in October at -4 overall, with rounds of 68-69-75.
 
Overall, Shimoji played in 15 events at Kennesaw State from 2019-22. As a sophomore, he was named the ASUN Golfer of the Week after shooting 66-78-75 (+6) at the Sea Palms Invitational. In the ASUN Championship that year, he tied for 12th at 70-73-72 (+2).
 
Shimoji's career-best round score is 66, accomplished twice, one at the aforementioned Sea Palms Invitational, the other at the first round of the  J.T. Poston Invitational in 2019.
 
Shimoji joined Kennesaw State from Friendship Christian School in Suwanee, Georgia. In 2016, he helped his high school win the Georgia Independent Christian Athletic Association (GICAA) state championship, named the team's MVP that year and in 2017. He was ranked sixth in the 2019 Georgia class and 114th nationally by Junior Golf Scoreboard.
 
The newest Texan plans to pursue a business degree at Tarleton. The Texans' 2022-23 roster is now complete, featuring Jack Anderson, Max Bengtsson, Alvaro Huidobro, Johnathan Kittle, Bladen Samaniego, Cristobal Sepulveda, Takafumi Shimoji and Masen Ward.