Annabel Wilson signs for UCLA
LEONA Maguire and Stephanie Meadow might be flying high on tour but there’s genuine excitement in US college golf circles that Lurgan’s Annabel Wilson will join UCLA at the end of this year.
Head women’s golf coach Carrie Forsyth is thrilled that the Irish international will join American Ty Akabane and Italy’s Emilie Alba Paltrinieri as the Bruins’ star signings next season.
“We are so pleased to announce the signing of three extraordinary players to the UCLA women’s golf team,” Forsyth said.
“These young women represent the future of our programme and we are looking forward to many successful and exciting years ahead. All three will have an immediate impact on our team next fall.”
A bronze medallist with Leona and Olivia Mehaffey in the World Amateur Team Championship in Mexico in 2016, Wilson represented Ireland at the Ladies’ Home Internationals, the European Ladies’ Team Championship and the Espirito Santo Trophy last year.
While she took time out to dedicate herself to her school work, she tied for eighth at the Portuguese International Ladies Amateur Championship, tied for ninth at the Spanish Ladies’ Amateur Championship and placed Top 20 at the World Junior Girls Championship and the European Ladies’ Amateur Championship.
“Annabel is a member of the Ireland National Team, and is one of the most gifted players we have ever recruited,” Forsyth said.
“We believe that her golf game has unlimited potential, her golf swing is beautiful and she has a calmness about her that will serve her well under pressure.”
Wilson is excited about the chance to head to UCLA, which boasts the likes of inaugural ANNIKA Award winner Alison Lee, Mo Martin and December’s Ladies European Tour Q-School winner Bronte Law amongst its alumni.
“(UCLA) has the best program in terms of improving players so that they can compete on the LPGA (Tour),” Wilson said.
The Lurgan star is one of five Irish players included in the initial 19-strong Great Britain and Ireland squad for the Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe at Royal St George’s from 28-29 June.
She joins Arizona State and Royal County Down star Mehaffey, Lisburn’s Paula Grant, Kirkistown Castle’s Beth Coulter and Castlewarden’s Lauren Walsh.