Marshall University Athletics
Women's Golf Signs Two Additions
11/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Nov. 19, 2009
HUNTINGTON, W.Va.- Marshall University women's golf coach Meredith Knight Rowsey announced the signing of Allison Harper and Rachel Thompson to National Letters of Intent for the 2010-11 Thundering Herd season.
Harper and Thompson are the first signee's for the Herd golf team and will look to help replace graduating senior's Larie Lynch (Huntington, W.Va.), Mary Oliver (North Hills, Calif.) and Andrea Grier (Hagerstown, Md.) next year.
"Allison and Rachel will make an immediate impact on the team and I would be surprised if she doesn't qualify for tournaments right away, on an already competitive squad," Knight Rowsey said. "I think they will be able to help fill the void that will be left by losing my two low tournament players in Larie and Andrea."
While attending Upper Arlington High School in Ohio, Allison was named to First-Team All-District two years (2008-09) and a three-time member of the First-Team All-Ohio Capital Conference (2007-09). She was named to Second-Team All-State and during the fall of her senior year was a medalist or tied for first in nine of 18 tournaments. Harper tied for seventh at the state tournament and finished third at Districts. She holds Upper Arlington High School's women's golf's lowest round (69) and has mounted a 76 scoring average during her four-year career.
Harper had an outstanding summer, in which she had three top-five finishes and shot a 74 to qualify for the championship flight in the Ohio Women's Amateur.
"I feel my program will be the perfect fit for Allison and Rachel because these girls work extremely hard in the classroom and on the course," Knight Rowsey continued. "We have stepped things up a level this year, having our best tournament scoring average ever, and I think we will be able to kick it up a notch next year with the help of these incoming freshman."
Both Harper and Thompson have excelled in the classroom as well, accumulating 3.8 and 3.7 GPA's respectively throughout their high school careers.
As a member of the Ashland High School women's golf team, Thompson, cousin of current Marshall women's golfer Molly Ginger (Centerville, Ohio), and the Arrows made their first state tournament appearance in school history in 2008. The team placed seventh in its debut and improved in 2009 to finish fourth. Thompson came back this year to finish second in the state, three strokes ahead of Harper, after finishing 12th during her junior season.
Thompson is a two-time sectional medalist and set a school record earlier in the year at the Edison Invitational, shooting a 70 through 18-holes. She was also named the Ashland High School's women's golf team's MVP during her final season.
Both Thompson and Harper concluded with a 76 scoring average during their senior seasons.
"These two were the players that I wanted to fill out my roster with for next year. I think it will be a great fit all around. These girls were rivals during the season and have enough respect for each other that they wanted to be college teammates. I feel they have the level of desire and commitment it will take to get us into a new era," Knight Rowsey said.
Players Mentioned
