FUSTER, OLIVER SIGN WITH PENN STATE WOMEN'S GOLF

Nittany Lions Recruit First-Ever South American Student-Athlete

November 17, 1999; State College, Pa.- Golfers Rosemarie Fuster and Susan Oliver have signed National Letters of Intent to attend Penn State next fall, PSU women's golf coach Denise St. Pierre announced on Wednesday.

Fuster (pronounced FEW-ster), a native of Lima, Peru, will add international flavor to the 2000 team. The five-time Peruvian national champion, she has been the national representative for Peru in the South American Championship six times. The past three years Fuster finished sixth, fifth, and seventh, respectively, among the best 30 South American players at the competition. A member of the Peruvian World Amateur Team, she's won two P.G.A. Junior Tour events in the United States. Last season she captured the Bear Creek title in Dallas, and ironically, won the PGA Junior event held at Penn State's Blue Golf Course last July. She shot a five-under-par 211 in three rounds.

"Every once in awhile you find that diamond in the rough," St. Pierre said. "We got lucky when Rosemarie happened to play here this summer. She was able to see Penn State and decided that this was where she wanted to go to school. If her junior success carries over to her collegiate career, she'll definitely be one of the top collegiate players."

Oliver, who hails from Latrobe, Pa., is a four-time qualifier for the PIAA state high school championship. Each of the last two seasons she's placed second in the event for Great Latrobe High School and has never finished lower than 14th. Oliver's won numerous tournaments, including the P.G.A. Junior event at Beaver Creek, Ohio, and several Tri-State P.G.A.-King's Junior Tournaments. She's been named the Tri-State P.G.A. King's Junior Player-of-the-Year twice.

"Susan's a nice addition to our team," St. Pierre added. "I've really had my eye on her since she was a freshman in high school. She impressed me in the PIAA meet, and we've kept track of her progress. It's nice when you get someone to commit to your program that you've watched for awhile. We're very fortunate to have her."

The Nittany Lion women's golf team, which closed out the fall schedule by winning the ECAC Championship, opens spring competition at the Mid-West Classic in Dallas on Feb. 25-27.