University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Add Three Signees
11/15/2018 10:01:00 AM | Women's Golf
The Minnesota women's golf team announced Thursday the addition of three student-athletes in Annabelle Ackroyd (Calgary, Alberta/William Aberhart High School), Emma Carpenter (DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb High School) and Grace Curran (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) for the 2019-2020 season.
"I believe that this is one of our strongest recruiting classes since I've been here," said head coach Michele Redman. "All three of these young ladies will help our team get better, both on and off the course. They are exceptional students"
Ackroyd has been one of Alberta's premier amateur golfers in recent years. She was named one of four Alberta Golf Players of the Year in the Junior Girls class for 2018, and finished seventh in the National Order of Merit. She competed in both the USGA U.S. Junior Girls Qualifier, where she was a medalist, and the U.S. Women's Amateur Championships as well as winning the Alberta Junior Championship in July, cementing herself as a solid competitor both at home and in the U.S.
"Annabelle's experience and success in tournament play is remarkable. She has accomplished so much at a young age and I can't wait to see what she's able to do at the college level," said Redman.
Emma Carpenter has had a storied career as a high school and junior golfer in Illinois. Recently named the DeKalb Daily Chronicle's Girls Golfer of the year for the third year in a row, Carpenter spent a lot of her time practicing with the DeKalb boys team, with not enough golfers to field a girls squad. She was a two-time state qualifier, most recently as a senior and she placed 10th in the state as a sophomore. Outside of school competition, she finished fifth at the 2018 Women's Western National Junior Championship and competed on the Mid-American Junior Golf Tour in the summers. Carpenter posted four top-five finishes in 2018 tournaments and four top-10 finishes in 2017.
"Emma is extremely competitive," said Redman. "She is a great player, but outside of golf, she is a really well-rounded person. She has an extensive background in music and a great voice."
Curran, also an Illinois native, has had one of the most successful careers of any girls high school golfer in state history. She is a three-time state tournament medalist, which is the second-best state record of any Illinois girls high school golfer. She led Lincoln-Way Central to its first state appearance since 1977 in 2017, and helped to take the team back to the 2018 tournament. She tied for seventh in this year's state contest and she claimed the title in 2016 as a sophomore. Curran's performance in her high school career made her a three-time all-state honoree. Like Carpenter, Curran competed on the MAJGT and posted two top five finishes in spring tournaments.
"Grace committed to us early and is so excited to become a Gopher," said Redman. "She is a great player and teammate and a grinder on the course. She never gives up – she knows how to get the ball in the hole."
The Gopher women's golf team returns to action in February, facing Michigan at a dual in Naples, Fla.
"I believe that this is one of our strongest recruiting classes since I've been here," said head coach Michele Redman. "All three of these young ladies will help our team get better, both on and off the course. They are exceptional students"
Ackroyd has been one of Alberta's premier amateur golfers in recent years. She was named one of four Alberta Golf Players of the Year in the Junior Girls class for 2018, and finished seventh in the National Order of Merit. She competed in both the USGA U.S. Junior Girls Qualifier, where she was a medalist, and the U.S. Women's Amateur Championships as well as winning the Alberta Junior Championship in July, cementing herself as a solid competitor both at home and in the U.S.
"Annabelle's experience and success in tournament play is remarkable. She has accomplished so much at a young age and I can't wait to see what she's able to do at the college level," said Redman.
Emma Carpenter has had a storied career as a high school and junior golfer in Illinois. Recently named the DeKalb Daily Chronicle's Girls Golfer of the year for the third year in a row, Carpenter spent a lot of her time practicing with the DeKalb boys team, with not enough golfers to field a girls squad. She was a two-time state qualifier, most recently as a senior and she placed 10th in the state as a sophomore. Outside of school competition, she finished fifth at the 2018 Women's Western National Junior Championship and competed on the Mid-American Junior Golf Tour in the summers. Carpenter posted four top-five finishes in 2018 tournaments and four top-10 finishes in 2017.
"Emma is extremely competitive," said Redman. "She is a great player, but outside of golf, she is a really well-rounded person. She has an extensive background in music and a great voice."
Curran, also an Illinois native, has had one of the most successful careers of any girls high school golfer in state history. She is a three-time state tournament medalist, which is the second-best state record of any Illinois girls high school golfer. She led Lincoln-Way Central to its first state appearance since 1977 in 2017, and helped to take the team back to the 2018 tournament. She tied for seventh in this year's state contest and she claimed the title in 2016 as a sophomore. Curran's performance in her high school career made her a three-time all-state honoree. Like Carpenter, Curran competed on the MAJGT and posted two top five finishes in spring tournaments.
"Grace committed to us early and is so excited to become a Gopher," said Redman. "She is a great player and teammate and a grinder on the course. She never gives up – she knows how to get the ball in the hole."
The Gopher women's golf team returns to action in February, facing Michigan at a dual in Naples, Fla.
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