Nov. 18, 2016
SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State women's golf head coach Leslie Spalding announced the signing Friday of four talented recruits to National Letters of Intent. Fernanda Escauriza (Asunción, Paraguay) will join the Aztecs when they open their spring schedule in February, while Gioia Carpinelli (Boppelsen, Switzerland), Cameron Lee (Tustin, Calif.) and Sara Kjellker (Hollviken, Sweden) will arrive on Montezuma Mesa in time for the 2017-18 campaign.
An accomplished international golfer, Escauriza captured medalist honors in the girls' 15-18 division at the 2015 Teen World Championships in Pinehurst, N.C., where she shot an even-par 216, including a final-round low of 70. She also emerged triumphant that same year at the Faldo Series South America Championship in Brazil, posting a four-shot victory at 4-over 220.
Earlier this summer, Escauriza finished third at the Campeanto Juvenil in Santiago, Chile, following an eighth-place effort at the Optimist International Junior Championships in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., where she carded a final-round 69. She also opened the year with another third-place performance in the Copa de Oro in Uruguay.
"Fernanda will join us for the spring after she graduates high school in December," Spalding said. "She is a player with huge upside while sporting a résumé any coach would be proud of. We believe she will bring a huge amount of depth to our current roster."
Carpinelli has also witnessed great success on the world stage over the past three years, logging 11 top-20 finishes in 30 tournaments counting toward her current No. 42 European Golf Ranking. In 2014, she posted a runner-up placement at the French International Ladies Stroke Play Championship and took third in the Slovenian Ladies International. In addition, Carpinelli reached the semifinals of match play at the French International Trophée Esmond U21 Championship last March after finishing third in the medal rounds. Not to be outdone, she also emerged victorious in her home country, winning the 2015 Swiss National Match Play Championship.
Carpinelli, who is listed at No. 158 in the latest World Amateur Golf Ranking, has appeared in numerous high-level events, including the Ladies British Open Amateur and the European Ladies Amateur Championship, as well as the European Nations Cup. She attends K+S Rämibühl School in Zurich, Switzerland.
"Gioia comes in as one of the most sought-after recruits we have ever landed," Spalding said. "She will be a great contributor and will bring a leadership component along with the ability to drive us forward. I'm very excited to welcome Gioia to the Aztec family."
A senior at Beckman High School, Lee capped off her prep career this fall, earning Pacific Coast League Player of the Year honors after leading the Patriots to their fourth consecutive conference championship. She was also voted her team's MVP in all four years at Beckman High and garnered first-team all-Orange County accolades on three occasions.
Lee has also excelled in junior competition, posting three top-10 placements last spring, including a medal-winning effort at the Toyota Tour Cup Series at La Quinta in May, where she shot a combined 1-under 143. She also tied for seventh at the AJGA Junior at Yolo Fliers in Woodland, Calif., following a solo eighth-place finish at the TTC event at La Costa. In addition, Lee tied for the runner spot at the 2015 AJGA Target Junior Championships in Maple Grove, Minn., after finishing first in the qualifier.
"We are so thrilled to have a local player of Cameron's caliber join us," Spalding said. "We are really looking forward to watching her grow and help reach her goals. With extremely strong skills and focus, her best golf is in front of her."
Kjellker, meanwhile, is a senior at Sundsgymnasiet in Vellinge, Sweden, the same school that produced former Aztec All-American Emma Henrikson. She has competed in several international events over the past three years, including a trio of appearances in the Annika Invitational Europe, as well as a pair of starts in both the Girls' British Open Qualifying Championships and the Irish Open. Kjellker has also gained valuable experience participating in the Finnish Open and Doral-Publix Junior Championships in the United States. Her brother Emil Kjellker is a freshman midfielder on the nationally ranked SDSU men's soccer team.
Last May, Kjellker recorded a runner-up placement at the Skandia Tour Elit No. 1 tournament and finished fourth at the 2015 Skandia Junior Open.
"Sara is someone who we started watching because she belongs to the same club (Ljunghusen Golf Club) as Emma (Henrikson)," Spalding said. "She has continued her development and has recently shown what she is capable of."
San Diego State, ranked 30th in the latest Golfstat index, will return to the fairways next spring when it competes in the Northrup Grumman Regional Challenge, Feb. 12-14, in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.