FERRIS STATE SIGNS PREP STANDOUT BECKY HOFFMAN

The Ferris State University women’s golf program has signed prep standout Becky Hoffman (Gaines/Swartz Creek) to a National Letter of Intent to attend FSU and participate in women’s golf, beginning in the 2004 fall season. The announcement was made by fifth-year head coach Brad Bedortha.

“Becky will be a nice addition to our squad next fall and we’re excited with her decision to attend Ferris State,” said Bedortha. “She has enjoyed a successful high school career which should prepare her well for the collegiate game. With her friendly personality and fierce competitiveness, she will fit right in well with her future teammates.

“She’s a fundamentally-sound player with a noteworthy golf background,” Bedortha added.

Hoffman, who was both a two-time (2002-03) all-state and an All-Big Nine Conference selection at Swartz Creek High School under coach Bill Benn, recorded an 81.8 stroke average during her junior year. She placed tied for third place individually at the 2003 Michigan High School Athletics Association (MHSAA) Lower Peninsula Division II State Finals Tournament with a two-round 164 score (80-84–164) while helping the Dragons along with current Northwood University women’s golf team members Sara McCullough and Jamie Long capture the state championship title. Prior to the state tourney, Hoffman tied for third place at the conference tourney as the Dragons finished runner-up and then shared top medalist honors at the regional meet. Presently, the 2003 SCHS team holds every school record and Hoffman is a co-individual record holder in several statistical categories involving conference and regional tournament matches.

As a sophomore in the 2002 campaign, she averaged 83.1 strokes per round while registering a season-high fourth-place performance at regionals. The 5-4 Hoffman, who swings right-handed, played an integral role in helping SCHS claim fourth place at the 2002 state finals tournament after turning in a second-place showing at the 2001 state finals. In her freshman year, she tallied a 90.7 average and registered a season-best fifth-place effort at the regional tourney en route to attaining all-conference second-team kudos.

Along with golf, Hoffman has competed in basketball and volleyball at Swartz Creek High and will graduate in the spring of 2004.

Hoffman, who plans to pursue criminal justice as her major field of study at FSU, is the daughter of Bob and Diane Hoffman. Her father is a golf instructor at King Par Golf Superstore in Flushing, Mich., while her mother is employed as a teacher.