Nov. 21, 2007

High school senior Jaclyn Jansen became the first to sign a national letter of intent to join the Baylor women's golf team during the early signing period, head coach Sylvia Ferdon announced Wednesday.

Currently a senior at St. Anthony's High School in Effingham, Ill., Jansen finished her fall season as the Illinois Girls Class A State Champion. This past year she was also a regional and sectional champion ans was the No. 1 regional qualifier for the United State Golf Association (USGA) Girls Junior Championship. After qualifying, Jansen went on to make the prestigious match play division of the championship at the Tacoma Country Club in Tacoma, Wash., where she fell to the eventual champion.

Jansen was a 2007 quarterfinalist in the championship division at the Western Girls National Championship and is ranked No. 3 in the Callaway Junior Series Point Standings.

"Jaclyn will add star power to our golf team and has the ability to go low with her scores," Ferdon said. "Her qualifying for the championship match play division at this year's USGA Junior Girls was evident of her talent. Her golf swing is powerful and length is a major factor that is now needed to win at the collegiate level."

Along with golfing is high school, Jansen also competes on the basketball and track teams.

"Her athleticism is a major factor in wanting her at Baylor," Ferdon added. "She wanted to come south to play golf year round and will be a great fit for Baylor."