Nov. 10, 2016
AUBURN, Ala. - Three talented and highly-rated newcomers will join the Auburn women's golf team next season as head coach Melissa Luellen announced the Tigers' 2017-18 signing class Thursday.
Auburn will welcome Julie McCarthy (Swords, Ireland), Mychael O'Berry (Hoover, Ala.) and Kaleigh Telfer (Kyalami, South Africa) to The Plains next season.
"Coach Andrew Pratt and I are extremely excited about this class," Luellen said. "Julie, Kaleigh and Mychael will make an immediate impact on our team as we continue to climb in the rankings with an ultimate goal of competing for SEC and national championships. Mychael is the second-ranked player in the 2017 class in the state of Alabama. Julie is the number one ranked player in Ireland and top-five in the UK. Kaleigh is the number one ranked junior in South Africa. It is always my goal to find the best talent in Alabama, the U.S. and around the world. I feel we have accomplished this. The future is bright!"
O'Berry and Telfer will join the team in August, and McCarthy plans to enroll in January 2018 to be with the team for the spring semester.
Information on Auburn's signees is below:
| Name | High School | Hometown |
|---|---|---|
| Julie McCarthy | Santa Sabina Dominican College | Dublin, Ireland |
| Mychael O'Berry | Hoover | Hoover, Ala. |
| Kaleigh Telfer | Education Incorporated | Kyalami, South Africa |
Hometown: Swords, Ireland
High School: Santa Sabina Dominican College
Home Course: Forest Little Golf Club
Highlights: Represented Ireland in several international competitions, including the Girls Home International Matches (2013-16), Ladies Home International Matches (2015) and the Girls European Team Championship (2014-16) … Competed at Junior British Open (2012) and British Girls Junior (2014, 2015, 2016) … Was the Irish Girls Champion in 2013 and 2016 … Named the Junior Sports Star of the Year in 2013 and Sports Star of the Year in 2015 … Career low round is a 66 (-6) at the Scottish Girls Open.
Coach Luellen on Julie: "Julie is a wonderfully talented golfer and first-class young lady. I first saw Julie when she played in her first big tournament at age 13, and I knew our paths would cross in the future. Coach Pratt and I are so excited to have the opportunity to coach Julie the next four years."
Hometown: Hoover, Ala.
High School: Hoover HS
Home Course: Ross Bridge
Highlights: 2015 Birmingham Metro Golfer of the Year … Helped Hoover HS to two AHSAA state titles … Finished tied for eighth at the North & South Amateur … Third-place finish at the 2016 AJGA Huntsville Junior … Low career round is a 68 (-4).
Coach Luellen on Mychael: "Mychael comes from an athletic background as her father is a football coach and played football in college. Work ethic and solid fundamentals are ingredients for good golf scores. Mychael came to our Auburn golf camp where Coach Pratt and I got to spend time with her and see her potential. She has been an Auburn fan since childhood and she is very excited to be part of the Auburn family!"
Hometown: Kyalami, South Africa
High School: Education Incorporated
Home Course: Bryanston Country Club
Highlights: Started 2016 as No. 1 ranked player on both the Junior and Senior Women's Golf South Africa rankings … Received both junior and senior South African National (Protea) Colors in 2015 and 2016 … Represented South Africa at 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China … Competed for her country at the World Amateur Team Championship in Mexico in 2016 … Won 10 junior and senior provincial tournaments between 2013 and 2015 … South Africa Junior Player of the Year in 2014 … Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation Player of the Year in 2015.
Coach Luellen on Kaleigh: "Kaleigh is immensely talented! She is a long-ball hitter and is not afraid to score low. Her strong competitive spirit will be felt immediately when she tees it up for Auburn."