Friday, August 24, 2012

JOHNSON CITY (Aug. 24, 2012) – ETSU head coach Stefanie Shelton announced Friday that the Buccaneers will be welcoming two new players to the women’s golf program for the 2012-13 season. 

Lourdes Lopez (Cadiz, Spain) and Vivienne Chin (Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Malaysia) continue the Bucs’ tradition of recruiting the best players from across the globe. Shelton said both players should help the team as they make another run at the Atlantic Sun Conference championship and a trip to the NCAAs in the spring.

Lopez, who played two seasons at Jacksonville State, was an all-newcomer and second team All-Ohio Valley Conference pick during her time at JSU, while also twice picking up the league’s golfer of the week honor. She captured one tournament individual title at the F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate during her time at JSU, setting a school and tournament record for individual score with a round of 6-under-par 66 on the final day of that event.

Prior to her collegiate time in the United States, Lopez finished fifth in the 2008 Spanish Open and was also ranked first in the Audalucia Rankings in 2008.

“Lourdes is a winner,” Shelton said. “She knows how to win and she does not accept less than her best in competition. With only two years of collegiate golf remaining, she is fueled to leave her mark with the Bucs.”

Meanwhile, Chin won the 2012 Labuan Amateur Open as an individual and later helped her home state of Sabah capture first place in the Malaysian Games. In addition, she represented Malaysia in the World Amateur in 2010, and later that year also played in the British Junior Open, the Asian Games, and the Asia Pacific Junior Open.

“Vivienne is a great competitor who loves this game,” Shelton said. “Her experience competing and winning around the world will be a great asset for our team. I expect her to compete for us immediately.”

The team will open its season Sept. 17 at the Cardinal Cup in Louisville, Ky. For more on ETSU women’s golf throughout the season, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the women’s golf link.