Lady'Back Linksters ink four for 2006-07 season

FAYETTEVILLE — Texas native Tiffany Phelps, Oklahoman Alexandrea Schulte, and Californians Corinna Rees and Kristin Ingram signed National Letters of Intent to play golf for the eighth-ranked University of Arkansas women’s team, head coach Kelley Hester announced today. "I’m very excited about this incoming class," said Hester. "With four freshmen next year I’m not sure what to expect, but I’m excited about all of them getting to campus." Schulte was one of the most highly recruited athletes in the 2006 class. The Bishop Kelley High School product from Tulsa earned three Oklahoma low medalist titles in her career. Schulte also captured state player of the year and all-conference honors as a junior. "Alex is arguably the best player out of the state of Oklahoma this year," said Hester. "She has an outstanding junior golf resume. I’m very excited to get her. She is an outstanding ball-striker." Originally from Uzbekistan, Ingram is ranked seventh in her region and 22ndnationally for the class of 2006. She posted a 76 last year at the U.S. Women’s Open qualifier and has extensive tournament experience despite not having a high school golf team. She also ranks 22nd nationally for her class. In recent events, Ingram earned medalist honors at the JAGS Long Beach Junior Classic with rounds of 74-76 and has three top 10 finishes on the AJGA tour. "Kristin was also one of the top recruits," said Hester. "She will challenge for an immediate spot in the lineup along with Alex. She is also a good ball-striker with a very good touch on the golf course. She is an extremely hard worker and brings a great work ethic to the team." Phelps hails from McKinney, Texas, where she was both a cheerleader and golfer for the McKinney High School Lions. She has played in the No. 1 spot in the Lions lineup for three seasons leading her team to the district title as a junior. Phelps was the district runner-up as a junior and is a two-time team caption. In addition to her high school golf, Phelps also has significant junior golf experience, including the 2005 U.S. Junior Championship. "Tiffany is a very good athlete and hits the ball extremely well," said Hester. "She’s only been playing competitive golf for three or four years and will be a great addition to the team in the long term. It’s only a matter of time until her stroke average reflects her ability." A Pebble Beach, Calif., native, Rees was an All Stars Invitational Champion as part of the Junior Golf Association of Northern California circuit in 2003-04. She also captured titles at the Jim Donahue Memorial and was second at the Charlie Culver Junior Masters that same year. The following year, Rees was the Culver medalist and also won the Winter Holiday Classic, tied for the title at the Pasatiempo-Saly Pini Memorial and was second at the World Junior Golf Cup San Francisco qualifier. "Corinna will add a lot of depth to our roster," commented Hester. "She just finished second at Northern California High School Championship and has a lot of experience within the state of California. I’m excited to add her to the lineup." "Next year will be a very exciting one," Hester continued. "I have to believe that we have one of the top recruiting classes in the country for next season and that’s good because we have one of the top outgoing classes at the end of this year."