Indiana University Athletics
Women's Golf Signs Four For 2009
11/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Nov. 18, 2008
IU Women's Golf Signees- Photo Gallery
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Pamela Burneski (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada/Fleetwood Park Secondary), Katie Coons (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug Regional), Molly O'Connor (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton-Warrenville South), and Jackie Yanch (Barrie, Ontario, Canada/St. Joseph's) have signed National Letters of Intent to play women's golf at Indiana University beginning in the fall of 2009, head coach Clint Wallman announced today.
"I am really excited about the incoming 2009 freshman class," Wallman said. "Each of the girls bring a strong competitive background, a desire to succeed and a work ethic to match. This class has proven they can compete and I believe they will help elevate our program to one of the best in the nation."
Burneski hails from Surrey, British Columbia, Canada where she has been a member of the senior boys high school golf team since the eighth grade. She helped lead the team to the Surrey championship in 2008 and the team has been a provincial qualifier each of the last four years. In 2007 she tied for second individually at the High School Senior Boys golf regional.
"Pamela is one of those unique talents who appear every once in a while," Wallman said. "She has the perfect blend of skills, competitiveness, attitude and work ethic. She will have a phenomenal career as a Hoosier and beyond."
No stranger to international experience, Burneski placed second at the 2008 American Junior Golf Association Aurora (Ill.) Open and finished among the top 40 in a collegiate field at the 2007 Arizona Silver Belle. She placed 34th at the 2006 Callaway Junior Worlds at Torrey Pines and was fifth at the 2005 AJGA Zona Notre in Monterrey, Mexico.
On the Royal Canadian Golf Association circuit, Burneski placed fifth at the 2008 Pacific Championship, second at the 2007 Pacific Future Links, sixth at the 2006 Canadian Junior Girls championship and second at the 2006 Prairie Future Links.
Coons is a four-year starter on the boys' team at Minnechaug Regional High School in Wilbraham, Mass., including two seasons as team captain. She is the two-time girls' Western Massachusetts champion and the two-time Francis Ouimet Championship winner. She competed at the 2008 Callaway Junior Worlds and the AJGA New Mexico Open.
"Katie is a player who will make her presence felt from the moment she gets to Bloomington," Wallman said. "She has had success at the local, regional and national level and I fully expect her to continue that trend into college. She has outstanding skills and is not afraid to compete. She will have a fantastic collegiate career."
Twice Coons has finished third at the Massachusetts high school girls state tournament and she also competed at the 2007 U.S. Girls' Junior Championships in Tacoma, Wash.
O'Connor has placed in the top 20 at the Illinois High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) state finals each of the last three seasons, finishing 16th as a sophomore, eighth as a junior and 10th as a senior. She is the three-time DuPage Valley Conference champion (2006-08) and has been named the conference player of the year each of the last three seasons.
"Molly burst onto the junior golf scene last summer with some outstanding play," Wallman said. "She is very gifted and has potential to be a big time player within the Big Ten and nationally. She will definitely make an impact on our team as soon as she arrives on campus."
The four-time team MVP, O'Connor won the sectional title by six strokes in 2008 and helped lead her team to an eighth place finish as a senior. O'Connor holds five school records, including career birdies, career pars, lowest 18-hole average, lowest round at state finals and lowest nine-hole round. In addition to high school competition, she placed eighth at the 2008 AJGA Future Legends, advanced to the championship bracket of the 2008 Women's Western Open and finished third at the 2008 Illinois Junior Girls State Amateur, posting a 6-under par score.
Yanch placed second at the 2007 Ontario Junior Masters and added top-five finishes at the FCWT Wedgefield Open (third), FCWT Mission Open (third), Golf Association of Ontario Women's Champions of Champions (second), and Golf Association of Ontario Junior Girls Match Play (third). In 2006 she placed first at the Huronia District Junior Girls Championship and the Barrie Country Club Ladies Championship. She also took home the title at the 2006 Ontario Junior Masters and the Canadian Junior Golf Association at Deer Creek.
"Jackie is a tremendous ball striker who has had success at all levels," Wallman said. "She is committed to succeeding at the Division 1 level and beyond. Her track record proves that. I see her being competitive in every event she participates."
Yanch was one of nine Canadian Junior Girls to tee up alongside LPGA pros Annika Sorenstam, Morgan Pressel and Alana Sharp at the Women's Charity Challenge at the Magna Golf and Country Club in Aurora, Ontario. She shot 68 in the final round of the Ontario Junior Girls Championship and placed fourth overall to represent team Ontario at the Canadian Junior Girls in Winnipeg.
"The main strength of this class is their talent and competitiveness," Wallman added. "However, I think the diversity they bring will do nothing but add to the team. I see them challenging everyone on the roster to be the best they can be. That type of enthusiasm will help our program achieve new heights."
Indiana Women's Golf Signees
Name Hometown/High School
Pamela Burneski- Surrey, British Columbia, Canada/Fleetwood Park Secondary
Katie Coons- Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug Regional
Molly O'Connor- Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton-Warrenville South
Jackie Yanch- Barrie, Ontario, Canada/St. Joseph's
Players Mentioned
