Feb. 1, 2012

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina women’s golf coach Kalen Harris announced the addition of Kaitlin Matheson to the Gamecocks’ 2012 signing class on Wednesday.

Matheson, a product of Wren High School in Piedmont, S.C., joins early signee Sarah Schmelzel to make up this year’s class.

“I look forward to Kaitlin joining the Gamecock family,” Harris said. “Kaitlin has emerged as one of the top junior golfers in the state of South Carolina and has performed well on the national stage too. Within the last year, Kaitlin has dedicated herself to improving her game and has made some very beneficial swing changes. Kaitlin is the type of individual who is eager to work hard to take full advantage of the resources that Carolina has to offer, and I look forward to assisting in her development over the next four years.”

Matheson, who was a four-time MVP at Wren, helped lead the Hurricanes to five-straight region championships and the 2011 South Carolina Class 4A state title. She also won the individual Class 4A state title in 2010. Matheson boasts an impressive junior record as well, compiling four tournaments wins (Orange Jacket Classic, Robert Trent Jones, Patriot’s Point, Waterford Classic) and two top 10 American Junior Golf Association finishes (seventh at the Burgett H. Mooney Jr. Rome Classic and 10th at the Golf Pride Junior Classic). She is currently ranked fourth in the South Carolina Junior Golf Association rankings and has been ranked as high as No. 2.

The Easley, S.C., native has also been a stellar student as she is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars, the National Honor Society and the Beta Club.

Matheson joins a South Carolina program that will return six of the seven golfers on its current roster in 2012-13.