Alumnus Helps Sister Win U.S. Open

Arkansas Tech University alumnus Luke Lang was a part of golf history on Sunday afternoon.

Lang caddied for his sister, Brittany Lang, as she won the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open at CordeValle in northern California. It was her first career major victory, and she became just the fourth American to win the U.S. Women’s Open in the last 12 years.

Before embarking upon a career as a professional caddie on the LPGA Tour, Luke Lang helped the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys golf team reach three consecutive NCAA Division II regionals (2001, 2002 and 2003) during a collegiate playing career that saw him earn four letters and all-conference honors as a senior in 2003.

A product of McKinney, Texas, Lang was drawn to Arkansas Tech by the philosophy and the personality of the late Dave Falconer, who coached the golf team at Arkansas Tech from 1989 until the time of his passing at the age of 73 in 2011.

“It was definitely Coach Falconer,” said Lang in a 2012 interview with Tech Action, the magazine of the Arkansas Tech Alumni Association. “I visited a few other schools…a couple in Oklahoma and a couple in Texas. I played 18 holes with Coach Falconer, and I just liked him. He was just a good dude. All of those other coaches said we were going to get up at 6 a.m. and run and work out until 8 a.m., but that’s not me and I don’t think that’s golf either. I really liked Coach Falconer and I enjoyed being there.”

Photographed: Arkansas Tech alumnus Luke Lang (right) and Brittany Lang in a file photo from the 2012 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.