Essex girl Nicola Race to join

Missouri University in 2009

Nicola Race from Witham, Essex, winner of America's National Junior College Athletics Association girls' championship last June, has signed a Letter of Intent to join the University of Missouri next autumn (2009).

Nicola, 19, pictured right, is currently a second-year student at a junior college, Redlands Community College, based in El Reno, Oklahoma.

Nicola won the NJCAA title with rounds of 72, 76 and 77 at LPGA Legends, Course, Daytona Beach in Florida. The tournament was reduced to 54 holes because of bush fires.

She is a member of Chelmsford Golf Club and her ambition it to become a professional golfer, either a teach pro or a tournament-playing pro.

Nicola was a First Team All-American selection at the end of the 2007-2008 college golf season and was ranked No 1 in the NJCAA with a stroke average of 76. She shot two rounds of 70 to lead Redlands CC to the national championship of 2008. She also won the Southern Nazarene Invitational.

Missouri University head women's golf coach Stephanie Priesmeyer said this week:

"Nicola obviously will bring to our team some great college experience. She is a proven winner on the course and has had that national tournament experience that will help our team immensely next fall.

"It is very difficult to be a champion in our sport and she has one National title already under her belt. We can't wait for her to join our team and help us reach our goals of competing at the National tournament."