Monday, November 23, 2009

Valparaiso University women’s golf coach Mike Higdon has announced the signing of three players to National Letters of Intent to play for the Crusaders beginning in the fall of 2010.  Joining the Brown and Gold’s program are Brianna Davy, Erika Pfaender, and Kelly Voigt.

Davy, a native of Schererville, Ind., was a four-time First Team All-Duneland Athletic Conference selection for LakeCentral high School.  She also earned All-Area accolades all four years during her prep career, and finished second at the sectional and third at the regional as a senior.  As a senior, she averaged 78.3 for 18 holes while scoring 38.4 over nine holes.  Davy won the 2008 Indiana Mountain Dew Tour Tournament of Champions as well.

“It is great to have Brianna join our team as she has consistently been one of the top junior golfers in Northwest Indiana for the past three or four years,” Higdon said.  “She has the dedication and desire to carry that tradition to the collegiate level and I am excited for her to make an immediate impact on our program.”

Pfaender, from Hartland, Wis., led Arrowhead High School to four state championship appearances.  A three-time First Team All-Classic 8 Conference selection, she earned All-Area accolades all four years during her high school career as well as being named to the All-State Team four tiems.  Pfaender finished sixth in the 2008 state championship while winning the regional and sectional titles in 2008 and 2009.  As a senior she had a 77.2 average while earning medalist honors six times.

“Erika has the proven experience of competing at the top level with her sixth place finish as an individual her junior year,” Higdon said.  “She was also named to the Academic All-State Team with carries on the tradition of athletic and academic excellence here at Valpo.”

Voigt, a Palatine, Ill. native, was a four-time Mid-Suburban League selection for Fremd High School.  A four-time sectional qualifier, she shot a two-over 77 to finish second as a senior.  In 2009 she qualified for the Illinois State Championships.  In August, Voigt shot 70 at the IJGA SouthWest Junior Open in Frankfort, Ill.

“Kelly has done many things both on and off of the course to ensure she is going to continue the growth of our women’s program,” Higdon said.  “She has had many strong finishes over the summer, including shooting under par in a couple of tournaments.  I am excited to see her elevate her golf game when she commits fully to golf.”

“Adding these three players is a continued movement forward into the future for the women’s golf program,” concluded Higdon.