Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women’s Golf Signs Pair of Recruits for 2024-25
12/15/2023 10:08:00 AM | Women's Golf
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell head women's golf coach Laura Tyler-Cook has announced the signing of Sophia Bardunias and Katrina von Behren to National Letters of Intent. Bardunias, from San Ramon, Calif., and von Behren, an Eagle, Idaho native, will join the squad in 2024-25.
Bardunias attends Monte Vista High School in Danville, Calif., where she is a two-time First Team All-East Bay Athletic League golfer. She finished in a tie for fifth place out of 132 girls at last year's North Coast Sectional Championship, and she was the medalist at the Bulldog Invitational.
Bardunias helped lead her team to an 18-0 record, an EBAL conference title, and runner-up finishes at the Sectional and Regional Championships. Monte Vista qualified for the state tournament for the first time in 16 years.
On the junior golf circuit, Bardunias finished T-18th at the FCG Callaway World Championship and T-6th at the JTNC Fall Series IV at Haggin Oaks. She advanced to the round of 16 at the 72nd California Junior Girls State Championship, and she won the FCG Napa World Series Championship at Silverado.
Bardunias was introduced to golf through her local First Tee program, and she has continued to volunteer as she has gotten older. The First Tee program provided her the opportunity to pair with PGA Tour professional David Frost at the PURE Insurance Open, a PGA Tour Champions event that was held at the famed Pebble Beach and Spyglass courses, and she even made her first hole-in-one at Pebble Beach.
"Sophia will be a welcome addition to our golf family," said Tyler-Cook. "Her sweet personality and her strong work ethic will help her fit right in."
Currently a senior at The Ambrose School in Meridian, Idaho, von Behren was the 2023 Class 2A Idaho state champion, one year after finishing as the runner-up, and she led her school to the 2023 2A team state title as well. She finished T-3rd at the Idaho Women's State Amateur, and she won the 2022 Idaho Junior Amateur and the McCall Junior Amateur.
Von Behren was born in San Francisco and developed her golf game while living in Bend, Oregon, before her family moved again more recently to Idaho. She won several Oregon Junior Golf Association and Idaho Junior Golf Association tournaments along the way.
"We are so excited to welcome Katrina, all the way from Idaho, to the Bison golf family," said Tyler-Cook. "Her persistence and fun energy will be warmly welcomed."
The Bucknell women's golf team is coming off a strong fall season, placing in the top five in all five of its events. The Bison broke the school record with a 307.7 fall scoring average, highlighted by a record-setting performance in their home invitational where the 18-, 36-, and 54-hole scoring records all fell.
Six more tournaments are on tap this spring, starting with the Advance Golf Partners Collegiate Feb. 11-13 at Hammock Creek GC in Palm City, Fla. Bucknell will host the 2024 Patriot League Championship on Apr. 19-21.
Bardunias attends Monte Vista High School in Danville, Calif., where she is a two-time First Team All-East Bay Athletic League golfer. She finished in a tie for fifth place out of 132 girls at last year's North Coast Sectional Championship, and she was the medalist at the Bulldog Invitational.
Bardunias helped lead her team to an 18-0 record, an EBAL conference title, and runner-up finishes at the Sectional and Regional Championships. Monte Vista qualified for the state tournament for the first time in 16 years.
On the junior golf circuit, Bardunias finished T-18th at the FCG Callaway World Championship and T-6th at the JTNC Fall Series IV at Haggin Oaks. She advanced to the round of 16 at the 72nd California Junior Girls State Championship, and she won the FCG Napa World Series Championship at Silverado.
Bardunias was introduced to golf through her local First Tee program, and she has continued to volunteer as she has gotten older. The First Tee program provided her the opportunity to pair with PGA Tour professional David Frost at the PURE Insurance Open, a PGA Tour Champions event that was held at the famed Pebble Beach and Spyglass courses, and she even made her first hole-in-one at Pebble Beach.
"Sophia will be a welcome addition to our golf family," said Tyler-Cook. "Her sweet personality and her strong work ethic will help her fit right in."
Currently a senior at The Ambrose School in Meridian, Idaho, von Behren was the 2023 Class 2A Idaho state champion, one year after finishing as the runner-up, and she led her school to the 2023 2A team state title as well. She finished T-3rd at the Idaho Women's State Amateur, and she won the 2022 Idaho Junior Amateur and the McCall Junior Amateur.
Von Behren was born in San Francisco and developed her golf game while living in Bend, Oregon, before her family moved again more recently to Idaho. She won several Oregon Junior Golf Association and Idaho Junior Golf Association tournaments along the way.
"We are so excited to welcome Katrina, all the way from Idaho, to the Bison golf family," said Tyler-Cook. "Her persistence and fun energy will be warmly welcomed."
The Bucknell women's golf team is coming off a strong fall season, placing in the top five in all five of its events. The Bison broke the school record with a 307.7 fall scoring average, highlighted by a record-setting performance in their home invitational where the 18-, 36-, and 54-hole scoring records all fell.
Six more tournaments are on tap this spring, starting with the Advance Golf Partners Collegiate Feb. 11-13 at Hammock Creek GC in Palm City, Fla. Bucknell will host the 2024 Patriot League Championship on Apr. 19-21.
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