Duck Women's Golf Unveils Talented Signee Class

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(Eugene, Oregon) - The University of Oregon women’s golf team unveiled another impressive class that signed National Letters of Intent the past week.

Second-year head coach Ria Scott welcomed the addition of freshmen-to-be Cali Hipp, Cassy Isagawa and Monica Petchakan.

“I couldn't be more thrilled with our 2011 signing class,” Scott said. “They are all accomplished players with impressive resumes. It is exciting to add three players that can all break par and make a lasting impact. There is no doubt that their best golf is ahead of them, and they were meant to be Ducks. I know what they can do individually, and I can't wait to see what they can do as a team.”

The Wailuku, Hawai’i native Isagawa stood third among collegiate recruits in the 2011 Junior Golf Scoreboard after she won titles in the Junior PGA Championship, Junior America’s Cup, King Auto Group State Championships, and was the runner-up at the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships. She played on the winning 2010 Junior Ryder Cup in Gleneagles, Scotland this September after her three-hole playoff Junior PGA win.

“Cassy's accomplishments speak for themselves,” Scott said. “She's such a dynamic player with unbelievable focus and the ability to go low. She is the first player in Oregon women's golf history who has played on a Junior Ryder Cup Team. She has accomplished some exceptional things in her junior career, yet we believe she will be an even better collegiate golfer.”

The Caldwell, Idaho native Hipp was tabbed 26th in the Golfweek class after she advanced to the round of 16 in the U.S. Girls Junior Championship, placed fourth in the Trusted Choice Big I National Championship, and won the Dropping Junior Championship. In the Idaho prep championships, she won the individual title in ’10, and added the 2005 Idaho Women’s Amateur and Idaho Junior Golf Association age-group titles from 2005-09.

“Cali has really come on strong the past couple of years,” Scott said. “Her hard work, progress and success on the national level has been really impressive. We were really attracted to her athleticism, her well-roundedness, and her passion to be a Duck.”

The Encino, Calif., native Petchakan was a U.S. Girls Junior Championship qualifier and ranked 41st on the 2011 Junior Golf Scoreboard. Among her top tourney efforts, she won the Southern California PGA Junior Tour Championship and was a 2010 L.A. city champion in 2008 and ’09, and MVP in 2008 and ’10.

“Monica's wealth of tournament experience is incredible,” Scott said. “She is a seasoned AJGA veteran, and has faced tough competition while growing up in Southern California. She has great fundamentals and a very solid golf swing. She is eager for college golf to get started, and I have no doubt that she will be ready.”

The trio’s arrival is well-timed since the Ducks graduate three seniors next spring – Monika Graf, Kendra Little and Erica Omlid. Among the team’s other players, the current roster sports one junior (Ashley Edwards), two sophomores (Cheyenne Hickle and Avery Sills) and one freshman (Raphaela Dyer).