Ella Ofstedahl Elects to Return for 2020-21 Season
5/11/2020 12:40:00 PM | Women's Golf
The women’s golf senior has seven career top-5 finishes.
STATESBORO – Georgia Southern women's golf senior Ella Ofstedahl has announced that she will be returning for the 2020-21 season.
"I am excited to announce that I will be returning to Georgia Southern for another year, playing for a team I love," said Ofstedahl. "Both Coach Kuhfeld and Coach Butler have supported me during this strange time, and I am thankful that they are making this transition possible. Coming back is giving me the chance to study psychology and continue competing for a great team. I know this team has a lot to give, and I am looking forward to being a part of it again!"
As a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the NCAA Division I Council voted March 30 to allow schools to provide spring-sport student-athletes an additional season of competition and an extension of their period of eligibility. Georgia Southern Director of Athletics Jared Benko announced the school will honor 2020 spring-sport seniors by covering tuition costs for 2020-21, and the money will come from fundraising and cutting costs from other areas of athletics. Ofstedahl, who graduated Saturday, was the lone senior in the women's golf program.
Ofstedahl ranked fifth in the Sun Belt and led the Eagles in scoring average with a mark of 73.56 last season. She shot a season low and school record 66 in the final round of the Idle Hour Collegiate, where she posted a three-round total of 209 (-7), also a school record, and tied for first. Ofstedahl was the medalist at the 2019 Sun Belt Championship and has 18 career top-20 finishes, including seven in the top-five and 11 in the top-10.
"I am thrilled that Ella wants to come back," said women's golf coach Emily Kuhfeld. "She is one of those players and leaders that simply elevates the environment she is in. The looks on her teammates faces when she told them she wanted to come back was pure joy, and we are excited for the upcoming year being more competitive and more fun. We are looking forward to all being together again!"
The Eagles will return their entire roster from 2019-20 and welcome freshmen Hailey Katona (Tilbury, Ontario, Canada/Tilbury District High School) and Abby Newton (Statesboro, Ga./Bulloch Academy) to the team.
"I am excited to announce that I will be returning to Georgia Southern for another year, playing for a team I love," said Ofstedahl. "Both Coach Kuhfeld and Coach Butler have supported me during this strange time, and I am thankful that they are making this transition possible. Coming back is giving me the chance to study psychology and continue competing for a great team. I know this team has a lot to give, and I am looking forward to being a part of it again!"
As a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the NCAA Division I Council voted March 30 to allow schools to provide spring-sport student-athletes an additional season of competition and an extension of their period of eligibility. Georgia Southern Director of Athletics Jared Benko announced the school will honor 2020 spring-sport seniors by covering tuition costs for 2020-21, and the money will come from fundraising and cutting costs from other areas of athletics. Ofstedahl, who graduated Saturday, was the lone senior in the women's golf program.
Ofstedahl ranked fifth in the Sun Belt and led the Eagles in scoring average with a mark of 73.56 last season. She shot a season low and school record 66 in the final round of the Idle Hour Collegiate, where she posted a three-round total of 209 (-7), also a school record, and tied for first. Ofstedahl was the medalist at the 2019 Sun Belt Championship and has 18 career top-20 finishes, including seven in the top-five and 11 in the top-10.
"I am thrilled that Ella wants to come back," said women's golf coach Emily Kuhfeld. "She is one of those players and leaders that simply elevates the environment she is in. The looks on her teammates faces when she told them she wanted to come back was pure joy, and we are excited for the upcoming year being more competitive and more fun. We are looking forward to all being together again!"
The Eagles will return their entire roster from 2019-20 and welcome freshmen Hailey Katona (Tilbury, Ontario, Canada/Tilbury District High School) and Abby Newton (Statesboro, Ga./Bulloch Academy) to the team.
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