Nov. 12, 2003

South Carolina women’s golf coach Kristi Coggins announced Wednesday that she has inked three golfers during November’s early signing period. The Gamecocks will welcome Blythe Worley, Whitney Simons and Lauren Huhnerkoch for the 2004-05 season.

Simons, a native of Aiken, South Carolina, is a senior at Aiken High School and is the two-time defending SC high school individual champion. Simons led her Aiken Lady Hornets to an undefeated 12-0 record in the fall and to their second regional title before finishing third in the state tournament.

Worley is a senior at J.H. Rose High School in Greenville, North Carolina, and was named as the 2003 Big East Player of the Year in North Carolina, this fall after shooting a match-low 68 to lead the Rampants to a victory over Wilson Fike and New Bern. In the 2003 North Carolina Eastern Regionals, Worley shot a 69 for the individual title and made her first hole-in-one during the tournament. In the 4-A girls’ golf tournament held at Pinehurst, North Carolina in October 2003, Worley tied for second place with a two-day total of 156, only one stroke behind the co-champions.

Lauren Huhnerkoch is a native of Burnsville, Minnesota, and is a key member of the Burnsville Senior High School golf team. She captured the 2003 2A Minnesota high school championship in June.

“I am really excited about the three young ladies that we signed during the early signing period,” said USC head coach Kristi Coggins. “I feel like we have signed three golfers who will make impacts on the team next year. These three are hungry for championships and excited to be Gamecocks. Whitney Simons is the two-time defending champion in South Carolina. She has a strong work ethic and an attitude towards achieving excellence. Blythe Worley is a solid player and a long-ball hitter and captured the 2002 North Carolina Championship as an individual. Lauren Huhnerkoch is a very consistent golfer and will be a solid addition to our team.”