Nov. 20, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - The Penn State women's golf team added firepower to its arsenal this week, signing four golfers for the 2015 class. Head coach Denise St. Pierre announced the addition of Jackie Rogowicz, Lauren Waller, Kamerine Taylor and Cara Basso. Unlike last year when international player Ariana Coyle Diez was signed (Mount Merrion, Ireland), Penn State opted for homegrown talent by adding three Pennsylvanians. "This entire class collectively is one of our best classes," Denise St. Pierre said as she is very pleased with the incoming class. "They are all great athletes, as well as students and are the type of people we want to have in our program."
Jackie Rogowicz (Yardley, Pa.), a senior at Pennsbury High School, has excelled as a junior golfer. Rogowicz won the 2011 AJGA Junior at Basking Ridge with a 10-over and managed another victory at the 2014 AJGA Junior hosted by Morgan Hoffman with a six-over. St. Pierre is excited with the players impending arrival saying, "Jackie is a top-100 ranked player, so its exciting to have a player like that come to our program."
Lauren Waller (Canonsburg, Pa.) of Canon-McMillan High School dominated high school and junior events in her area. Waller won numerous AJGA events as a junior player including the 2011 Lessings AJGA Classic and the 2012 Junior All-Star at Penn State. Waller is currently ranked 217th in the junior Golfweek rankings. St. Pierre spoke highly of Waller saying, "Like Jackie, Lauren dominated her area for a number years, and she is the type of person we want at Penn State."
Kamerine Taylor (Dublin, Ohio) of Dublin Coffman high school has been a force in high school and at junior events. In 2014, Taylor helped Dublin Coffman to a second place finish at districts and a third place finish at the state championships. In her only AJGA event of 2014, Taylor placed 13th with +24 in three rounds of play. A varsity player in three sports, St. Pierre was impressed saying, "Kamerine is just a great all-around athletic ability. She is just a raw athlete."
Cara Basso (Downingtown, Pa.) spent 2014 traveling to play in AJGA, IJGT and PGA Junior Series events. Basso was very successful in junior events, earning four top-five finishes in 2014. Basso was also a force in her time at Villa Maria Academy, winning the 2014 AACA Golf Championship as an individual. St. Pierre rated Basso's ability highly pointing out, "Cara is a diamond in the rough because she is very strong and has a lot of distance in her game, which should help with the difficult weather."