ANDERSON, S.C. - Anderson University head women's golf coach Danny Neal has announced that the Trojans have signed Tiffany Elam, Blake Hodges and Makalyn Poole to national letters of intent, with the talented trio slated to play tor the Black and Gold in 2015-16.
"I truly believe that this is the strongest class of women golfers that we have ever signed," said Neal. "The three young ladies coming in next year will have an immediate and profound effect on our program."
Poole, who is currently ranked 17th in South Carolina, was a six-year prep letterwinner, earning three while competing on the Palmetto High School boy's squad and three seasons on the Wren High School girls' team. The Williamston, S.C. native posted ten top-10 finishes in 2014, including four runner-up finishes (SCGA Tournament of Champions, Cobb's Glen Junior, Tradition Four-Ball and AAA Upper State High School Tournament). Poole is a two-time Anderson County Junior Girls Champion (2013, 2014), a three-time Saluda Valley CC Ladies Club Champion (2012, 2013, 2014) and was selected to represent the North team for the SCHSL North-South All-Star matches. She is ranked 661st in the latest GolfWeek World Junior rankings and 825th in the Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings.
Poole is a three-time All-State honoree for finishing in the top-10 individually (2012, 2013, 2014) and was a medalist at the 2011 Lady Green Wave Invitational. She finished third after carding a 73 at the 2013 Boys AAA Upper State Tournament to lead Palmetto to a third place finish, as the Mustangs qualified for the state championship.
"[Makalyn] is extremely competitive and has a drive to win," added Neal. "As demonstrated by her strong profile which includes many top finishes and [her] career low score of 67."
Elam posted four top-five finishes in Hurricane Junior Golf Tour
events this past fall, while also helping lead the Cambridge High
Lady Bears to the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) 2014 Class
5A state title. The Alpharetta, Ga. native finished fourth overall
in the championship event. Elam competed in the 2013 and 2014
Callaway Junior Worlds at Torrey Pines and represented Nicaragua in
the Junior (British) Open Championship. She tied for the top spot
in the 2012 Central American Junior Championships and finished
second in the 2013 Central America Junior Championship, while
helping lead the squads to the team title both years.
"Tiffany has competed all over the world," noted Neal.
Hodges, a native of Woodruff, S.C., was a six-year varsity letterwinner for the Byrnes High School Lady Rebels, while earning team MVP honors in both 2013 and 2014. She was selected to play with the North/South All-Star Team in 2014 and posted a match average of 37 and a tournament average of 76 this past season. Hodges claimed the 2013 Spartanburg County Junior Am Championship and was named to the 2014 Lady Viking All-Tournament Team. She captured All-Area and All-Region recognition in 2010, 2011 and 2012, while earning the Coaches' Award following those three consecutive seasons.
"Blake is a very solid player with an impressive profile as
well," concluded Neal.
