Women's golf signs pair of international student-athletes to NLIs

UNCG coach Emily Marron

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Belgian national team member Fanny Cnops and Colombian Andrea Rangel Guevara have signed National Letters of Intent to play women's golf at UNCG in 2011-12, Spartan coach Emily Marron announced Thursday.

Cnops (pronounced kuh-NOPS) graduated from K.A. Voskenslaan high school in Ghent, Belgium, in 2009 and has been enrolled in university in Belgium for the last year.

The Brussels native won the German Ladies Amateur in May, picking up a two-stroke victory. She also beat College of Charleston's Leigh Whittaker, an All-Southern Conference performer and a 2011 NCAA regional participant, by four strokes in the tournament.

This week, she's representing Belgium at the European Ladies' Amateur Team Championship in Austria.

Cnops won a pair of tournaments in 2010, claiming medalist honors at the Belgian Masters and the King's Prize.

"We are so excited about Fanny joining our program this fall," Marron said. "She is one of the top recruits out of Europe for 2011 and I believe she will make an immediate impact on our program. Fanny has a very powerful game, and has had experience playing at the highest amateur level in Europe. She has a great desire to play 'team' golf and thrives in that environment. Her recent win at the German Ladies Amateur was very impressive, beating some of the best U.S. college players. Fanny will be a tremendous addition to our team."

Guevara, a Bogota native, graduated early from Colegio la Presentacion Sans Facon in 2010 and has spent the last year in the United States practicing at the IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

Guevara turned in a trio of top-10 finishes in 2010 in Colombia, highlighted by a second-place finish at Los Buhos. She also finished sixth at the Carmel Club Alex Haime and ninth at the International at San Andres.

In 2009, Guevara won the Carmel Club Matamoros Cup and finished fourth at the National Junior tournament at Club Militar. She was fifth at Puerto Penalisa, a qualifier for the National, and sixth at the Carmel Club Alex Haime.

An outstanding student, Guevara was awarded Colegio la Presentacion Sans Facon's Medal of Excellence and the Medal of Marie Poussepin, given to the student who demonstrates the most values, principles and morals, in 2010.

"Andrea comes to UNCG with a solid foundation to build upon," Marron said. "Her training at the academy in Florida was very intense and prepared her fully to play at the college level. I think her passion and enthusiasm for the game will help our entire team. Andrea's best golf is ahead of her and we are excited to have her join our program."

UNCG opens its fall campaign at College of Charleston's Cougar Classic at Yeamans Hall Country Club on Sept. 11.

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