Dec. 4, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina women’s golf team signed one standout during the early signing period as Meredith Swanson of Roanoke, Va., submitted her National Letter of Intent to compete for the Gamecocks beginning with the 2009-10 school year, head coach Kalen Anderson announced.

“I am extremely excited to have Meredith join our program,” Anderson said. “Meredith is an experienced junior golfer who has enjoyed much success at both the state and national levels. Her diligent work ethic and passionate attitude to excel will contribute greatly to the culture of our team.”

Swanson competed four years for Hidden Valley High School on the boys’ team – serving as the team captain in 2007 and 2008 – and became the only player in Hidden Valley history to qualify for the boys’ high school state championships in 2007 and 2008. She was named all-River Ridge District and all-region all four years (2005-08) and earned first-team Virginia High School League all-state honors in 2007 and 2008 – all while competing in the boys’ division. She has also competed in track and field and softball while in high school.

She is currently ranked 93rd overall by GolfWeek and has been ranked in the top 100 the past three years. GolfWeek named her one of the “Top 25 Upcoming College Freshmen” to watch for the 2009-10 college season.

The No. 2-ranked junior golfer in Virginia, she has competed in 23 nationally ranked American Junior Golf Association events, recording 16 top-10 finishes in the last two years. Her most impressive was a victory at the 2008 AJGA Stars of Texas Junior in Austin, Texas, where she won by an AJGA-record 14 strokes. She was invited to participate in the LPGA Michelob Ultra Classic Monday qualifier earlier this year, and earned an invitation to participate in the British Junior Open in Scotland.

A golfer since she was 4 years old, she began competing at age 10 and playing at the highest national junior level since age 12. As a 13-year-old, she won her first of three Roanoke Valley Women’s Hall of Fame Championships, becoming the youngest tournament winner ever. She broke the women’s course record at the Roanoke Country Club at age 15, shooting a 66 while competing in the club championship.

“Meredith is a self-motivated individual who will continuously push her teammates on the golf course, in practice and in workouts. Meredith is a talented player, a very good putter, and she will make significant contributions to Gamecock women’s golf.”