Hawkeyes Ink Two Recruits

Dec. 16, 2009

IOWA CITY, IA — The University of Iowa women’s golf Coach Kelly Crawford announced Woojay (Jessie) Choi from Woodlands, TX, and Karly Grouwinkel of Mount Prospect, IL, have signed National Letters of Intent to attend the University of Iowa as women’s golf student-athletes.

Choi, a native of Woodlands, TX, is a two-time runner-up in the Manitoba Junior Girl’s Championship in 2008 and 2009. She placed eighth in the Manitoba Women’s Amateur and also competed in the Royale Canadian Junior Girl’s Championship in 2008 and 2009. Choi was named the top player at Woodlands College Park High School; she placed 5th in the TJGT The Wilderness Challenge at Lake Jackson and won the HGA Performance Series Event – The Houstonian Golf Course/Memorial Park Golf. Other accolades include placing third in HGA Performance Series Event at Walden and winning the Maple Junior Leaf Tour Manitoba Series at Selkirk GC.

“I am thrilled that Jessie will be a Hawkeye next fall,” Crawford said. “She is a great ball striker who works very hard on improving her game. She loves to play golf and loves being a Hawkeye. I know Jessie will contribute to our program right away.”

Grouwinkel, a native of Mount Prospect, IL, tied the Prospect High School girls’ golf record by shooting a low round of 73 as a senior. She was an all-conference selection both her junior and senior seasons. Grouwinkel placed second in her conference tournament in both 2008 and 2009. She competed for team USA East in the World Youth Golf Challenge 2009 in Bollingbrook, IL. She averaged 77.6 per round as a senior. She led her high school team to the Mid-Suburban League title as a junior and senior as Prospect HS finished with a 22-0 record. Grouwinkel was a four-year three-sport athlete, lettering in basketball, soccer and badminton.

“Karly is one of the best ball strikers I have seen,” Crawford said. “She is an all around athlete and very competitive. She has set high goals for herself and I look forward to helping her achieve those goals. Karly comes from a family of Hawkeyes and I am excited that she is one too.”

Her grandfather, Gary Grouwinkel, was an Iowa football letterman in 1956, 1957 and 1958. Iowa won Big Ten football titles in both 1956 and 1958.