Women's Golf Signs Three

By Lindsay Gaesser, SDA Media Relations

TEMPE, Ariz.—The Arizona State women’s golf team adds three promising young golfers to its roster for the 2015-16 season.  Head coach Melissa Luellen announced today that Madison Kerley, Taylor Coleman, and Linnea Strom have signed letters of intent to study at ASU and play golf for the Sun Devils.

Kerley, a local product from Xavier College Prep, led Xavier to its 32nd state high school championship this fall.  The standout senior was the 2014 AZ State High School Individual Champion, golfing a 6-under 138 (72-66).  Kerley, a member of a four-time state championship team at Xavier, qualified for the 2014 Women’s U.S. Open.

“Madison has loved ASU her entire life,” said Luellen.  “Her mom was a cheerleader at ASU, and Madison will bring a truckload of enthusiasm with her.  She attended our Sun Devil Golf Camp when she was 12 and we were immediately impressed with her natural ability to hit it hard! As she has matured, she has learned to get the ball in the hole as shown by last week’s scores of 72-66 at the AZ State HS championship.”

Coleman, the 2013 Texas State High School Individual Champion, hails from San Antonio, Texas.  As a sophomore, she won district, regional, and state championships and also made her LPGA debut at the North Texas Shootout, earning Coleman the San Antonio Express-News’ Girls Golfer of the Year Award in 2013.  That same year, Coleman was the AJGA Girls Division Champion.  Finishing at 6-under 210, she recorded the lowest Girls Division tournament total in the event’s eight-year history.  

“Taylor has been plagued by a bad wrist and had surgery in August,” said Luellen.  “Her recovery will be slow and steady.  She has so much talent and a strong competitive nature.  She has the ability to go low, which is shown by her career low of 63.”

Strom, a native of Sweden, is ranked eighth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.  This year, she took home the title at the 2014 Spanish Ladies’ Amateur Championship.  The win followed her victory at the prestigious Polo Golf Junior Classic in late 2013.  Earlier that year, the Swede won the Skandia Tour Elit #5 Flickor in her homeland.  She was also the leading amateur in the 2013 Helsingborg Open.

“Linnea is not only a top junior golfer, she has established herself as a top ranked amateur in the world,” said Luellen.  “She has amazing poise and grace on and off the course.  She will be one of the great Sun Devil golfers!”