WHEELING, WV, April 16, 2008 - Cardinal golfer Valerie Grimes was notified recently that she's going to get the chance to live her dream and work at the U.S. Open.

The Pittsburgh native is a junior marketing and management major at the university. She'll be leaving for California on May 11 to work a total of seven weeks at the prestigious Torrey Pines Golf Club in San Diego, Ca. as a paid intern in the United States Golfing Association (USGA) merchandise pavilion.

The 21-year-old golfer will not only be paid a wage of $8 per hour, she'll be compensated for her travel and will be given housing and the use of a rental car. Plus, she's going to receive 11 official golf outfits, sporting logos like Polo.

Only 22 interns were selected to work in the merchandise department and Grimes got this chance based in part upon her experience last summer as a volunteer at the U.S. Open when it was held at the Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh. She offered her services last summer since she wanted to go but didn't want to pay for the pricey tickets. By performing this unpaid gig, Grimes learned the ropes and met paid interns who gave her hints on how to get hired in 2008.

But she also credits her Cardinal coach Sue Vail for helping her actually land the job. Coach Vail, who is in her fourth season as head coach of the Cardinal women's golf program, knows U.S. Golf Association president, David Fay.

"I'm thrilled and proud that Valerie will be representing WJU Women's Golf at the US Open at Torrey Pines this summer. After Valerie mentioned to me in January that she would like to pursue the intern appointment, my first thought was to e-mail David Fay, now CEO of the United States Golf Association, whom I have known for over 30 years," explained Vail. “He then gave Valerie's name to the organizer of the interns, and she happened to have one vacancy, which Valerie received. Hopefully, this appointment will give incentive to other students and help them to realize that having dreams come true is not fiction but reality."

Coach Vail is no stranger to success in the golf world, having herself earned eight WV Amateur Women's Golf titles, seven WV Senior Women's Golf titles, and on numerous occasions qualified for the USGA Amateur Championships. She is a member of the National Golf Coaches Association and the United States Senior Women's Golf Association.

Grimes is counting the days till she leaves for the big tournament and is sure to have lots of stories to tell when she returns to Pittsburgh on June 29. The young golfer has competed on the links since she was a freshman at Oakland Catholic High School in Pittsburgh.

She and her team of Cardinal athletes earned their second straight WVIAC title last spring.

This USGA job is a great way to gain valuable experience in sports management, naturally. The industry contacts with whom the interns will work with are the best in the business and Grimes knows that she's getting the chance of a lifetime.

"The whole experience is very team oriented; we expect our employees to work hard, hold responsibility, and be dedicated to presenting the best U.S. Open experience possible," stated the USGA management.

The tournament runs from June 9 - 15, 2008.

 

(DAVIS, W.Va.)---West Liberty State held off Ohio Valley's final round charge to earn the 2008 WVIAC Women's Golf Championship at Canaan Valley State Park.  The Toppers notched a 36-hole record score of 660 to claim a two-shot win over OVU.  OVU's Anne-Claire Tans recorded a two-day total of 155 to earn individual medalist honors.

Ohio Valley's 18-hole total of 326 on Friday established a new team tournament single round record, but it left the Lady Scots a pair of shots short.  Wheeling Jesuit was third at 680.

Wheeling Jesuit's Sara Hicks placed second in the individual race with a 36-hole tally of 160.  West Liberty State golfers claimed the next two spots as Emily Taylor carded a 161 and Haygen Mowder was at 164.  Marisa Wiethe (WJU) and Amanda Smith (WLSC) tied for fifth with matching 166 totals.

Tans also claimed WVIAC Player of the Year honors with the top average score in the league's three mandated events.  West Liberty was represented on the all-conference team by Taylor, Smith, and Mowder.  Hicks and Wiethe are on the squad from Wheeling Jesuit and Ohio Valley's Lara Storrer rounds out the all-league team.

2008 WVIAC Women's Golf Championship:
 

WHEELING, WV, Sept. 25, 2007 — Reigning WVIAC champions, the Wheeling Jesuit University Lady Cardinals won the WVIAC Northern Regional held at Oglebay's Crispin course Sept. 23 and 24.

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OVU Prevails at WVIAC Southern Regional
WVIAC Staff
9/24/2007

(TORNADO, W.VA)---Ohio Valley pulled away over the final 18 holes to prevail at the WVIAC Southern Regional women's golf tournament.  The Fighting Scots' total of 649 edged runner-up West Liberty State by seven strokes.  Wheeling Jesuit finished third at 670.

OVU's Lara Storrar was the individual medalist with a 156 total following rounds of 79 and 77.  Teammate Anne-Claire Tans finished a shot behind.

Complete individual results will be available soon.

WVIAC Southern Regional
Big Bend Golf Course
September 20-21

(BUCKHANNON, W.Va.)---West Liberty's 366 team total was good enough to claim a victory at Riverbend Golf Course among a seven-team field of WVIAC women's golf squads.  West Virginia State's Brandi Smith was the individual medalist with a six-over par 78.

Wheeling Jesuit (374), West Virginia State (380), and Ohio Valley (384) followed the Hilltoppers in the team standings.  WLSC's Emily Taylor finished second in the individual race with an 80.

Full scores

9/14 Riverbend Golf Course, Buckhannon, W.Va.
Team Scores:
 

CORAL SPRINGS, FL July 9, 2007 – The University of South Alabama Women’s Golf Team has been honored as the recipient of the 2006-2007 NGCA All-Scholar Team GPA Award. This award recognizes the women’s collegiate golf program with the highest collective average team GPA which includes all of the team’s student-athletes for the 2006-2007 season. South Alabama’s eight team members had an average GPA of 3.799.

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