Nov. 28, 2012
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF head women's golf coach Emily Marron has announced her first signing class with the Knights. Marron will welcome Ashley Holder (Orlando, Fla.), Kristine Odaiyar (Ocala, Fla.) and Ayaka Nakayama (Kanagawa, Japan) to the Knights' program next fall.
Holder is a former district champion and district runner-up at Lake Nona High School. She is a former FHSAA regional champion as well. Holder is a two-time Metro Conference Champion. She is a two-time qualifier for the USGA Public Links Championship and won the 2010 Florida State Golf Association Match Play Championship for ages 13-18.
Ashley was recruited by several top programs, and we are so excited she choose to stay at home and play for UCF, Marron said. Her mom is a UCF alum and Ashley shares that Knight Pride we are looking for. She has that strong desire to make this team a national contender and she will make an immediate impact on our program. Ashley is a very strong player and is a tremendous competitor.
Odaiyar qualified for the 2012 USGA Junior Girls Championship. She holds the lowest 18-hole score (67) and the lowest 54-hole score (207) on the Florida Junior Tour this season. Odaiyar won the 2011 Florida State Golf Association Match Play Championship for ages 13-18. She was also the runner-up in the 2012 FSGA Stroke Play tournament.
We are very excited to have Kristine join our team, Marron said. She has played on the highest junior levels and that experience will help her transition quickly to college competition. Kristine is not only a talented golfer, but is a very bright student. She exemplifies what we are looking for in our student-athletes here at UCF.
Nakayama is originally from Japan, but has been attending Heritage Academy in Hilton Head Island, S.C. for the past two years. Nakayama has won several tournaments on the International Junior Golf Tour. She played in the 2012 North/South Women's Amateur and finished in the top 60 of 144 golfers in a tournament held at Pinehurst. Nakayama qualified for and took part in the 2010 USGA Junior Girls Championship.
Ayaka is a nice addition to our program, Marron said. She has only been in the United States for two years, yet she has discovered much success on the golf course here in the States. She is a very talented, methodical player and is determined to find success. Ayaka's sheer determination has impressed me the most and I look forward to welcoming her to the UCF family.