Bulls Sign Rolex All-American Smith
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, NOV. 14, 2018 – Head coach
Erika Brennan and assistant coach
Dalton Stevens have added an instant-impact freshman for next season by signing American Junior Golf Association Rolex All-American Erika Smith to a National Letter of Intent.
"We are thrilled to welcome Erika Smith to the Bulls family," Brennan said. "She is a tremendous force on the golf course and the caliber of student-athlete that will continue to elevate our program. We know that she will make an immediate and decisive impact once she arrives in August."
A standout for Lake Nona High School in Orlando, Smith is one of the top recruits in the country, checking in at No. 20 among all classes nationally in the Rolex AJGA Junior Golf rankings. Smith also is ranked No. 21 in the class of 2019 by Junior Golf Scoreboard and Golfweek, who also rank her as the 41
st and 45
th junior golfer overall in all classes, respectively.
"I am so excited to continue and further my career at USF," Smith said. "I cannot wait to be able to play on a team with so many high-quality people. The coaches are wonderful and I look forward to being able to learn everything they have to teach me."
Smith currently has a 74.48 scoring average and will bring more title-winning experience to the Bulls after topping a field of 78 at the AJGA TeensGiv.org Girls Junior Championship with rounds of 70-68-72 (6-under total).
Smith also qualified for the USGA Women's Amateur Championship and placed fourth at the 2018 Junior PGA Championship qualifier with rounds of 73-71 (even par) in a field of 49. Smith added another fourth-place performance to her impressive golf resume at the AJGA Foley Performance Academy at Eagles Dream Junior Championship and was named an AJGA Rolex All-American in 2018.
"She has claimed many accolades throughout her junior golf career and most recently being named a Rolex All-American truly shows what Erika will bring to this program," Stevens said. "Erika is a student-athlete that strives for being the best not only on the course but in the classroom as well. She is a great fit for us and we are excited for her to join the 'Uprising.'"
Smith and
Colombian standout Ana Maria Barriga Lesmes, who also signed with the Bulls on Wednesday, will join a collegiate program that's rapidly rising this season. USF placed in the top 10 of all four of its fall events with a pair of runner-up finishes. The Bulls broke numerous 18- and 54-hole scoring records while placing second in the fall season finale at the FIU Pat Bradley Invitational on Oct. 23.
About USF Women's Golf
Nine-year veteran head coach Erika Brennan completed her first spring season with USF in 2018. Juniors Natalia Villavicencio and Maria "Nani" Merchan highlighted the 2017-18 season, combining to post four top-10 performances and 11 top-25 finishes, including eight in the spring. The 2018-19 roster includes three newcomers: transfers Jacqueline Twitty and Sadie Dewinton-Davies along with freshman Ramya Meenakshisundaram. The Bulls opened the 2018 fall season with a runner-up finish at the USA Intercollegiate and also placed second at the FIU Pat Bradley Invitational to wrap up their four-tournament run before the spring.
