University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Two Future Tar Heels Sign National Letters of Intent
November 15, 2018 | Women's Golf
CHAPEL HILL – North Carolina women's golf head coach Jan Mann announced the addition of two players to the women's golf team with the signing of National Letters of Intent on Wednesday. Krista Junkkari and Sophie Nielson will enroll next year and join the team for the 2019-2020 season.
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"We are excited to welcome both Sofie Nielsen and Krista Junkkari into our Tar Heel family," Mann said. "Both individuals come with very strong academic and golf backgrounds. They have tremendous tournament experience with proven junior golf records. Sofie and Krista will bring a great deal of depth to our program. We are looking forward to an exciting four years with both individuals."
Name: Krista Junkkari
Hometown: Kouvola, Finland
High School: Elimäki Upper Secondary School
Club Team: Koski Golf Academy
A member of the Finnish national team, Junkkari checks in at No. 311 in the world amateur rankings. She has three career first-place finishes to her name including the 2017 Finnish Junior Match Play U18, 2018 Finnish Stroke Play Championship U18 and the 2018 Finnish Junior Tour Final. Junkkari has placed in the top 10 five other times, including finishing ninth at the 2018 British Open Amateur Championship.
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"On my visit to the University of North Carolina, I didn't know what to expect at all," Junkkari said. "When I met the coaches and the team, I knew I would love being a Tar Heel and a member of the team. Working with great coaches, going to a great school and becoming a member of the Carolina Family is something I'm really looking forward to."
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Junkkari is the daughter of the late Martti Junkkari and Mari Tigerstedt. Has three older siblings, Camilla Pynninen-Kangas, Kennet Pyinnen and Carl Junkkari. Junkkari plans to major in general psychology at Carolina.
A member of the Danish national team, Nielsen is the 187th ranked amateur in the world. She competed for Denmark in the European Team Championships from 2015-2017, 2017 European Nations Cup, and the 2017 World Juniors Girls Championship.
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"I have chosen to become a Tar Heel because I see it as a good opportunity to develop my game of golf and to be the best version of myself," Nielsen said. "On top of that, I can combine study and golf in a perfect way. It is the way that brings me even closer to my goal as a professional golfer on the LPGA. Furthermore, I hope that UNC will give me some experiences I will remember the rest of my life."
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Nielsen is the top-ranked U18 golfer and the No. 2 overall women's golfer in Denmark. As an individual, Nielsen has five career wins including the 2018 Danish National Stroke Play Championship, the 2018 European Nations Cup (Copa Sotogrande), 2017 Danish International Ladies Amateur Championship, 2017 Skanderborg Bilcentrum Open and the 2016 German Girls Championship. Nielsen has four other career top 10 finishes.
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Stay up to date with Carolina Women's Golf by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
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"We are excited to welcome both Sofie Nielsen and Krista Junkkari into our Tar Heel family," Mann said. "Both individuals come with very strong academic and golf backgrounds. They have tremendous tournament experience with proven junior golf records. Sofie and Krista will bring a great deal of depth to our program. We are looking forward to an exciting four years with both individuals."
Name: Krista Junkkari
Hometown: Kouvola, Finland
High School: Elimäki Upper Secondary School
Club Team: Koski Golf Academy
 
A member of the Finnish national team, Junkkari checks in at No. 311 in the world amateur rankings. She has three career first-place finishes to her name including the 2017 Finnish Junior Match Play U18, 2018 Finnish Stroke Play Championship U18 and the 2018 Finnish Junior Tour Final. Junkkari has placed in the top 10 five other times, including finishing ninth at the 2018 British Open Amateur Championship.
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"On my visit to the University of North Carolina, I didn't know what to expect at all," Junkkari said. "When I met the coaches and the team, I knew I would love being a Tar Heel and a member of the team. Working with great coaches, going to a great school and becoming a member of the Carolina Family is something I'm really looking forward to."
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Junkkari is the daughter of the late Martti Junkkari and Mari Tigerstedt. Has three older siblings, Camilla Pynninen-Kangas, Kennet Pyinnen and Carl Junkkari. Junkkari plans to major in general psychology at Carolina.
Name: Sofie Nielsen
Hometown: Ikast, Denmark
High School: Herningsholm Erhvervsskole School
High School: Herningsholm Erhvervsskole School
A member of the Danish national team, Nielsen is the 187th ranked amateur in the world. She competed for Denmark in the European Team Championships from 2015-2017, 2017 European Nations Cup, and the 2017 World Juniors Girls Championship.
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"I have chosen to become a Tar Heel because I see it as a good opportunity to develop my game of golf and to be the best version of myself," Nielsen said. "On top of that, I can combine study and golf in a perfect way. It is the way that brings me even closer to my goal as a professional golfer on the LPGA. Furthermore, I hope that UNC will give me some experiences I will remember the rest of my life."
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Nielsen is the top-ranked U18 golfer and the No. 2 overall women's golfer in Denmark. As an individual, Nielsen has five career wins including the 2018 Danish National Stroke Play Championship, the 2018 European Nations Cup (Copa Sotogrande), 2017 Danish International Ladies Amateur Championship, 2017 Skanderborg Bilcentrum Open and the 2016 German Girls Championship. Nielsen has four other career top 10 finishes.
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Stay up to date with Carolina Women's Golf by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
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