Laramie, Wyo. (Sept. 8, 2022) --  University of Wyoming Director of Golf and Head Men's Golf Coach Joe Jensen has announced the addition of Kristof Panke of Davenport, Wash., to the Cowboy Golf team.  Panke comes to Wyoming after earning Third Team NAIA All-America honors as a freshman in the 2021-22 season at Lewis and Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho.  Panke has three years of college eligibility remaining.
 
Panke was named the Cascade Conference Co-Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season, was selected to the All-Conference Team and earned NAIA PING All-West Region honors his freshman season in addition to being named a Third Team NAIA All-American.  He twice was named the Cascade Conference Golfer of the Week during the 2021-22 season.    
 
"Kristof (Panke) was a young man who was a very competitive skier, striving to make the national ski team," said Jensen.  "He lived and trained in Europe for awhile and was training to become an Olympic skier, so he is a very focused athlete.  He is also a very focused young man, who I think has a good upside. 
 
"When he shifted his attention away from skiing and into golf, we had looked at him as a potential addition to our team.  After he decided he wanted to make the move up to the NCAA Division I level, we were excited to have the opportunity to bring him into our program.  He is coming off a very successful freshman season, and I believe he can add some great depth to our roster, which has seven players returning from last season."
 
Panke qualified for the NAIA National Tournament as an individual and led the Cascade Conference in scoring average, with a 72.8 stroke average.  He posted seven Top Five finishes and finished in the Top 15 of every tournament of the season prior to the NAIA National Championships.
 
His highest finish was a Second Place showing at the Bushnell Fall Invitational, shooting a 151 (-2) in the two-round event.  Panke's season low round of 70 and tournament low score of 212 helped him to a fifth-place finish at the WWU Wine Valley Invitational.  He helped lead his Warrior men's team to four tournament wins.  Panke was voted the Lewis and Clark State Freshman of the Year by his peers.
 
Panke played his high school golf at Davenport High School in Davenport, Wash.  He helped lead his high school team to two district golf championships, was voted All-League and earned All-Academic honors.  He also competed in ski racing and graduated as the Valedictorian of his high school class and was ASB President
 
He is the son of Rolf and Heather Panke.  His sister Kaysa played golf at Gonzaga.