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Feb. 25, 2005

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The first-ever University of Virginia women’s golf team will be the honored guest at UVa’s National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration on Sunday, Feb. 27. The inaugural team will be introduced at halftime of the women’s basketball game between Virginia and Wake Forest, which tips off at 2 p.m. at University Hall.

Under the guidance of head coach Jan Mann and assistant coach Danielle Roudebush,the 2003-04 season marked Virginia’s inaugural season of women’s golf. In its first-ever tournament action, Virginia captured ninth place of 17 teams at the College of Charleston’s Cougar Fall Classic. In a season warm-up match, the Cavaliers took their first competitive swing against the Richmond Spiders at Charlottesville’s Birdwood Golf Course. Virginia finished seventh at the 2004 ACC Championship on April 18 after shooting a season-low 915.

With a lone senior and six freshmen, Virginia made great strides during its first season of competition. In the final GolfWeek/Sagarin national rankings, the Cavaliers ranked No. 61 of the 221 Division I women’s programs. In the East Region, Virginia was listed at No. 22 of the 111 schools.

Academically, the women’s golf team sported the second highest GPA among Virginia’s 25 sports with a 3.35 team average (volleyball had a 3.37 GPA). All six Cavalier freshmen were named to the Academic All-ACC Team. Lindsay Robinson (Huntington, W. Va.) and Leah Wigger (Louisville, Ky.) were also named to the prestigious 2004 All-American Scholar Team.

Leah Wigger made UVa history during the final round of the SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational on March 9, 2004. After shooting a double bogey, the freshman recorded her first collegiate hole-in-one on the second hole. Using a 8-iron, Wigger nailed the 154-yard shot on the par 3 hole. The hole-in-one was also the first in Virginia women’s golf history.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN
On August 22, 2001, Athletic Director Craig Littlepage announced that women’s golf would become the 25th intercollegiate sport at UVa and that the team would begin competing during the 2003-04 academic year. Thanks to the generosity and vision of the late William C. Eacho, Jr., his gift of $1.4 million helped create an endowment for funding women’s golf scholarships. Eacho (pronounced Eeko) is a 1945 graduate of UVa. With the addition of women’s golf, Virginia now has 13 intercollegiate sports for women and 12 for men, including men’s golf.

All members of the inaugural women’s golf team have continued to play for the Cavaliers this season. Virginia, which finished third at the Papa John’s Collegiate earlier this week, travels to the SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational on March 4-6 in Gainesville, Fla.

FIRST UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA WOMEN’S GOLF TEAM
2003-04 VIRGINIA CAVALIERS

Players 	 	Then-Yr. 	HometownMichele Graham 	 	Sr. 	 	Chesapeake, Va.Ashley Mayo 	 	Fr. 	 	Aventura, Fla.Kira Mayo 	 	Fr. 	 	Aventura, Fla.Lindsay Robinson 	Fr. 	 	Huntington, W.V.Sally Shonk 	 	Fr. 	 	Nobelsville, Ind.Rachel Smith 	 	Fr. 	 	Powell, Tenn.Leah Wigger 	 	Fr. 	 	Louisville, Ky.

Head coach: Jan MannAssistant coach: Danielle Roudebush

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