May 26, 2004

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Jennifer Noland, who tied for ninth place at the Class 4A state championship earlier this week, has signed a national letter of intent to play women's golf at Western Washington University, beginning this fall.

Noland didn't take up the game until two weeks before the start of her freshman season at Southridge High School in Kennewick. As a senior, she was a first-team Big Nine Conference all-star for the second straight year and placed fourth at the district tournament.

As a junior, Noland was the Tri-City Herald all-Area Most Valuable Player. She tied for 10th at state, shooting a school-record tying 78 in the final round, and placed second at district. Noland also finished second in the Washington Junior Golf Association District 4 Tournament.

Noland was a second-team all-league pick as a sophomore, placing first at district, and received honorable mention as a freshman.

A four-year letter winner, Noland plans to major in speech pathology and education at Western.

JENNIFER NOLAND, Kennewick, Wash.

HIGH SCHOOL: Tied for ninth at Class 4A state tournament as senior at Southridge High School ... First-team Tri-City Herald Big Nine all-star for second straight year ... Tri-City Herald Big Nine Most Valuable Player as junior ... Tied for 10th place at state, shooting school-record tying 78 in final round ... Placed second at Washington Junior Golf Association District 4 championship ... Second-team all-Big Nine as sophomore, placing first at district tournament, and received honorable mention as freshman ... Four-year letter winner ... Began playing two weeks before freshman year in high school.

PERSONAL: Plans to major in speech pathology and education.