FERRIS STATE WOMEN’S GOLF SIGNS TOP IN-STATE RECRUIT

Highly-touted prep standout Missy Ward (Fenton/Linden) has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend and play women’s golf at Ferris State University, starting with the 2004 fall season as announced by FSU fifth-year head coach Brad Bedortha.

“I’m thrilled that Missy will be joining our program next fall,” said Bedortha. “She was heavily recruited by some in-state schools and we’re fortunate to get someone of her talent. I have high expectations she will make an immediate contribution and improve our team’s level of play immensely.

Missy Ward, one of Michigan's top junior golfers, signs with Ferris State. (David Troppens/Tri-County Times Photo)

“Missy is a well-rounded individual who’s highly motivated, well-prepared and has competed in a numerous top level junior golf tournaments,” added Bedortha, a two-time (2000-01 and 2002-03) Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Coach of the Year honoree.

A two-time (2002-03) first-team all-state selection at LHS, Ward has been an unanimous All-Flint Metro League First-Team pick the last three seasons (2001-03) under coach Cathy North. As a junior last season, she averaged a team-best 82.3 strokes per round and defended her conference top individual medalist honor for the third straight year as the Eagles captured the league title for the third season in a row. She went on to place second at regionals and turned in a fifth-place 159 score (78-81–159) at the 2003 Michigan High School Athletics Association (MHSAA) Lower Peninsula Division III State Finals Tournament in the team’s state qualifying performance. Ward was the recipient of the All-Metro League’s Scholar-Athlete Award in 2003.

The two-year team captain posted an 82.3 stroke average during her sophomore campaign in 2002 while taking fourth in regional action and 12th place at the state final tourney. The 5-6 Ward, who notched an 87.0 round average as a freshman, garnered a fifth-place regional tournament showing and wound up in 13th place at the state finals in 2001.

The school’s record holder in every golf statistical category, Ward holds the distinction of being the first girl to become the overall junior club champion at the Spring Meadows Country Club in Linden and won her initial women’s championship flight. Besides golf, she has been involved in competitive cheerleading for two years and is a multi-year member of both the school’s Spanish Club and Varsity Club.

Ward joins two-time prep all-state selection Becky Hoffman (Gaines/Swartz Creek) as current Bulldog signees this campaign. The daughter of LeRoy and Deb Ward of Fenton, Ward plans to major in Ferris’ Professional Golf Management (PGM) program.

“This is the best recruiting class we’ve had in my years coaching at Ferris State,” said Bedortha of his two signings to date this season. “What’s significant is that I’ve went after kids in Michigan because of their high talent level. Our PGM program has certainly been a big plus in getting the recruits we’ve targeted.”