ATLANTA – Georgia State women’s golf coach Jessica Steward announced the signing of Kansas transfer Kelly Strickland on Friday. Strickland, originally from Alpharetta, Ga., will have 3.5 years of eligibility remaining beginning this spring.
Strickland played for Ronnie Davis at South Forsyth High School in Cumming, Ga., lettering all four years of high school. She was an individual region champion her senior year and helped South Forsyth to a second-place finish at the 2017 Region 3-AAAAAA championships and fourth-place in Class 7A State Championship.
Strickland qualified for the 2016 U.S. Girl’s Championship. As a junior golfer she also finished in second place (out of 32 players) at the 2017 Athens Junior Classic with scores of 75-74. That same summer, Strickland qualified for the USGA Junior Girls Championship. Her lowest round in competition is a 3-under par 69 which she shot in the 2017 AJGA City of London (Ky.) Junior Championship.
As a high school senior, Strickland finished in fifth place at the GHSA State Class 7A Golf Championships with rounds of 80-73.
“Kelly has shown she has a tremendous amount of potential as a golfer and has expressed the desire for more competitive opportunities with her transfer,” Steward said. “I’m excited to begin working with her and see the impact she can have on our tournament results. She’s ready to work hard and compete as a Panther but can also help us develop off the course as well, as she is an excellent student and the coaches at KU have said great things about her character.
“In addition, I’m also happy to have an Atlanta-area player return home to continue their collegiate career. That should speak volumes about the quality of our student-athlete experience at Georgia State and the growth of our golf program.”
This past summer, Strickland finished tied for eighth in the Georgia State Golf Association Top 60 Women’s Classic with scores of 75-76, just one stroke behind new Georgia State women’s golf assistant coach Ket Preamchuen Vanderpool. She also shot 75 to earn her place as the second alternate in the U.S. Women’s Amateur qualifier.
Georgia State recently finished a busy four-tournament fall season. The Panthers will return to action for the Amelia Island Collegiate Feb. 17-18.