Titan Women Sign First Golfer

Eastern Florida’s inaugural women’s golf coach Anne Gannon on Thursday announced the signing of her first player, Orlando Lake Nona High senior Lauren Holder.

The women’s golf team begins competition in the fall of 2016 and will be based at the Fred Gay Golf Academy Driving Range on SR 524 in Cocoa along with Eastern Florida’s seven-time national champion men’s golf team.

Women’s and men’s golf play their NJCAA championship seasons in the spring.

Holder, the daughter of Joseph and Renee Holder, graduates from Lake Nona High in the spring.

“Obviously I’m very excited, I’m very fortunate to have this opportunity and I can’t wait for next season,” Holder said.

“I hope to progress the next two years. I hope next year I get better and better and go on from there.”

Most recently Holder tied for 33rd individually shooting 79-80=159 and Lake Nona finished fifth as a team at the Florida High School Athletic Association State Tournament.

Lake Nona was the 2015 Metro Conference, district and regional champion.

Holder’s high school scoring average for nine holes was 40. Her older sister Ashley Holder is a junior and golfer at the University of Central Florida.

“We are thrilled to have Lauren as our first signee,” said Gannon. “We look for her to set the tone and the pace for the team next fall and we are hard at work recruiting players to join her.

“Having played collegiately myself I know it is a big jump from high school to college given the level of competition, increased practice load, academics and time management. Lauren is equipped to handle it all and thrive.”

Gannon expects to carry eight players on her inaugural roster. Women’s golf joins men’s tennis, which also debuts in he fall, as Eastern Florida’s two newest programs, giving the Titans 11 varsity sports the most in the Florida College System Activities Association and NJCAA Region 8.

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Mark DeCotis, Athletic Communications

Office: 321-433-5700   Cell: 321-759-4540   Email: decotism@easternflorida.edu