By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

TAMPA - When USF men's golf coach Chris Malloy got the job in 2010 he promised to bring top talent to Tampa. The trend started last season and continues this year with a signing class of three players that have thrived at the junior level.

Malloy announced Thursday that he has signed Ryan Borg, Rigel Fernandes and Ethan Wagner. Each player has thrived at the prep level and brings a ton of potential to a USF team that already has a ton of great pieces in place.

"Each of these players looked at other major programs throughout the country and chose us," Malloy said. "With the new facility and the number of first-class golf courses in our area, there is no reason that we can't be the best in the nation. This is just the beginning of great things to come."

Malloy credited his assistant coach, Brennan Webb, for helping to make the recruiting process a successful one for the Bulls. Many hours were spent on the road during the past two and a half years, and the coaching staff's reward is a class that brings more national attention to the program.

"With over 300 Division I men's golf programs in the nation, for us to sign two players ranked in the top 50 is quite a feat," Malloy said.

Fernandes is ranked No. 24 in the class of 2013 by Golfweek Magazine after earning Rolex AJGA All-America honorable mention honors and FCWT First-Team All-America accolades out of IMG Pendelton Academy in Bradenton. He became the All-India under 18 national champion, posted two wins on the AJGA Tour and advanced to the round of 32 at the USGA Junior Amateur.

"Rigel has proven over the past couple of years that he is an elite player," Malloy said. "He may be the most explosive junior player that I have ever recruited. He verbally committed over a year ago and has never wavered, even though he was recruited by almost every major golf program in the country."

Malloy gained more momentum when he officially landed Borg out of The Crenshaw School in Caledon, Ontario. Borg is ranked 47^th in the class of 2013 by Golfweek Magazine after tying for ninth at the 2012 Canadian Junior event and tying for 21^st at the 2012 Canadian Amateur. He has four top-five finishes on the FCWT Tour, including a second place finish at one of the tour's majors.

"Ryan is a young man that has come a long way with his game over the last year," Malloy said. "He has really proven that he belongs among the nation's elite players. He is a very independent and mature person, and that will suit him well for the collegiate level."

Wagner will head to USF from Spruce Creek High School in Port Orange, Fla., where he posted three top-10 finishes at the Florida State High School Championships and became a member of a state title team. He recorded three top-10 finishes on the AJGA Tour, qualified for the USGA Junior Amateur and won the Innisbrooke Easter Championship while breaking the tournament scoring record by eight strokes.

"Ethan was the No. 1 player in Florida in his class when he committed to us," Malloy said. "It was certainly a battle to get him here over the other major programs in our state. He has been working through some swing changes over the last few months and they have really paid off for him. When he is at his best, he is as good as anyone in the country."