FUCHIK SIGNS WITH FERRIS STATE WOMEN'S GOLF PROGRAM

Bulldogs Add Oklahoma Prep Golfer During Early-Signing Period

"We are thrilled to get a quality player and individual like Erin," said Bedortha. "She is an outstanding player as well as being a very good student. I believe that she can step right in and compete for a starting spot.

"Erin has been a proven player throughout her high school career and continues the tradition of talented golfers to play at Ferris State," added Bedortha, the 2004-05 National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) National Coach of the Year.

Fuchik has earned All-Metro Lakes Conference Second-Team honors in each of her last two seasons (2006 and 2007) at Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa, Okla. Fuchik, who will serve as the Comets' team captain this spring as a senior, averaged 78.0 strokes per round during her 2007 junior season. She played a key role in leading head coach Liz Kester's squad to a second-place state tournament finish and a regional title for the third (2005-07) straight year this past season.

The 5-3 right-handed Fuchik registered a 79.0 stroke average as a sophomore in 2006 as the Comets claimed the 5A state championship crown and repeated (2005 and 2006) as conference champions. In her 2005 freshman campaign, Fuchik helped BKHS to a state tournament runner-up placing.

Fuchik, who will graduate this spring, is a four-year varsity letterwinner in girls' golf and has also received two letters in bowling. She's also involved in the school's performing arts club and school choir.

The daughter of Mark and Teresa Fuchik of Tulsa, Okla., Erin plans to major in FSU's professional golf management program. Her older sister, Kelly Fuchik, is a sophomore on the 2007-08 University of Tulsa's women's golf team. Erin was also a prep teammate of current University of Arkansas' women's golf team member Alexandrea Schulte.

Fuchik played at the world-reknown Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Course in 2007 with Larry Rinker in the Wal-Mart First Tee Tournament and has also participated in the PGA National. She also has claimed a hole-in-one during her golf playing career.

Fuchik joins Amanda Bruski (Naperville, Ill./North) as the second prep recruit to ink with the nationally-ranked Bulldogs during the early-signing period.

The Ferris State women's golf team has finished among the NCAA Division II top four teams at the national championship tournament the last four seasons to date, which includes a third-place performance at the 2007 NCAA-II Women's Golf Championships (5/9-12) in Pace, Fla.