Current West Albany High School senior Hailey Thomas is the first official member of the Class of 2013 for the Warrior women's golf program. (Photo courtesy of Casey Campbell, Corvallis Gazette-Times)
Corban Signs Two-Time State Tournament Qualifier as First Recruit of 2009-10 Season
SALEM, Ore. – Fourth-year head coach Ron Sisler announced today the first official signing for the 2009-10 season, as current West Albany High School senior Hailey Thomas (Albany, Ore.) signed a Letter of Intent to join Corban's women's golf team next fall.
"Hailey is going to add a lot to our program," said Sisler. "According to her head coach (Dennis Rector), Hailey has raw ability and hits the ball a long way. She will add four years of high school experience at a competitive team to our squad next season. I cannot wait to see how Hailey will do as a Warrior."
Thomas, a four-year varsity player at West Albany High School, helped lead the Bulldogs to a third place finish last season at the OSAA 5A state tournament at OGA Golf Course in Woodburn. Thomas carded a two-round total of 56-over 200 to finish 20th individually, which was 18 strokes outside of the Top 10.
A two-time member of the Mid-Willamette Conference champions, Thomas has made back-to-back appearances at the 5A state tournament as a Bulldog. In 2007, the 5-foot-5 junior finish in a tie for 21st individually after carding rounds of 93 and 97 as her score was eight strokes outside of the Top 15.
Prior to competing at the state tournament and helping West Albany to a third place showing as a sophomore, Thomas was a co-medalist at the Mid-Willamette Conference tournament with a fellow Bulldog teammate after carding a two-round total of 36-over 180 (88-93).
"Corban was my college choice because I believe that studying and working with others that share the same values will help me not only now, but later in life," stated Thomas. "Corban is also giving me the opportunity to play college golf, which is something that I did not think I would be able to do."
In her first tournament of the season as a junior, Thomas performed something that her high school coach had only seen one other time in competition since 1992 -- a hole-in-one! Thomas' ace came on the 158-yard fourth hole at Cross Creek Golf Course in Dallas en route to tying for medalist honors with nine-hole score of 41.
"I am pleased to add someone of Hailey's caliber and talent to our squad next season," commented Warrior assistant coach Mark Colachico. "With the addition of Hailey, along with the players we have returning next season, I could see the women's program quickly moving into the upper portion of the conference."
Besides her high school accolades, Thomas is a two-time junior champion at Springhill Country Club in Albany. Along with the return of five players from this season's roster in 2009-10, Thomas will begin competing for the Warriors during the fall season.
Corban's men's and women's golf teams will begin the 2009 spring season on March 14th & 15th at the two-day Pacific Invitational at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.