University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Golfer To Play In 2011 World University Games
February 3, 2011 | Women's Golf
Feb. 3, 2011
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - University of North Carolina golfer Catherine O'Donnell has been selected to participate for the United States women's golf team at the World University Games. The games will be played August 12-23 at Mission Hills in Shenzen, China. The event, played every other year, is sponsored by the International University Sports Federation and this marks only the second year that golf has been included in the Games.
O'Donnell, a junior from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., won the 2010 World University Golf Championship in Malaga, Spain, last June. She is a two-time All-ACC performer who tied for first place at the Tar Heel Invitational her freshman year. O'Donnell carded six top-20 finishes last year and two top-10 finishes last fall.
"It is a great honor to be selected to participate in the World University Games," said O'Donnell. "Having the opportunity to represent the United States is extremely exciting and I can't wait. Coach Thomason has put together a great team and I am looking forward to playing for her again." Thomason was also the U.S. coach at last summer's World University Golf Championship.
Diane Thomason, former head coach at the University of Iowa has been chosen to coach the team. Rounding out the squad are Caroline Powers, a sophomore at Michigan State; Tessa Teachman, a junior at LSU; Brooke Beeler, a junior at TCU; and Emily Talley, a junior at Colorado.
"I'm excited. I think everybody is a good player," said Thomason. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for these kids. It's like the Olympics, really,"
The team will not practice together prior to the event, but Thomason said they will get in a few practice rounds before play begins at Mission Hills.
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