Women's Golf Signs Three Prep Players
November 24, 1998
Corvallis, Ore. - Bridget Bieth of Sacramento, Stacie Ferguson of Tucson and Melanie Furuta of Long Beach, Cal., have signed national letters of intent to play womens golf at Oregon State University, it was announced Tuesday by Beaver Head Coach Rise Lakowske.
Bieth attends Johnson West High School, a school which does not sponsor a girls golf program. As a member of the boys team, she has lettered and played the number one position three years. She was an honorable mention All-American last season and played on the Northern California America Junior Golf Association Americas Cup team. She also had a trio of top-10 finishes in tournaments over the summer, including earning medalist honors at the Boise Junior Classic. Bieth also made visits to BYU, Washington State, Oregon and Pepperdine.
"Oregon State University was a good fit for me because it is semi close to home," Bieth said. "I also like the team and the coaching staff, it was an offer I couldnt resist."
Ferguson is a four-year letterwinner at Canyon Del Oro High School, the prep golf season in the state of Arizona is in the fall. She finished ninth at this years state championships and fifth as a junior. She also has been runner-up at the Regionals the last two years and was the medalist as a freshman and sophomore. Ferguson chose Oregon State over Arizona and Baylor.
"The coaches and team members are the reasons I chose Oregon State," the future business major said.
Furuta enters her senior year as a three-year letterwinner for Long Beach Poly High School in Long Beach, Cal. She also plays on the schools boys team and will conclude her career on the team, even though the school has started a girls program this year. Furuta placed seventh out of 115 at the CIF Southern Section Girls High School Championships last season. Feruta, who was also considering the University of San Francisco and Long Beach State, won the Mark OMeara Junior Golf Association Invitational during the summer with an even par 72 at the Mission Viejo Country Club. She has also posted runner-up finishes at the PGA Junior Series tournaments in Albuquerque and Ontario, Cal.
"I chose Oregon State because I really felt comfortable with Coach Lakowske and the current team," Furuta said. "I liked the emphasis Coach Lakowske puts on the short game."
"This is the most talented group we have ever recruited at Oregon State University," Lakowske said. "This trio has talent and experience, and they will come into the program and pay immediate dividends."
