Nov. 21, 2005

GREENIVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina head women's golf coach Kevin Williams announced today the signing of Abby Bools and Kristen Billings to a National Letter of Intent for the 2006-07 season.

Bools, a native of Hickory, N.C., was ranked second in the state of North Carolina (CGA rankings) after a successful summer on the links. A senior at Hickory High School, Bools represented North and South Carolina in the Carolina's versus Virginia's Junior Team Matches this summer and finished second in the 2005 NC Junior Championship. In addition, Bools finished fourth in the prestigious Charles Tilghman Junior Invitational in December of 2004.

"Abby is a tremendous student-athlete with an enormous amount of potential," said Williams. "She was ranked second in the state at the end of the summer which speaks highly for her consistency. Academically she is ranked in the top-5 of her graduating class and we are happy to be able to sign a player of her caliber."

Billings, a senior at Ashley High School in Wilmington, N.C., took home back-to-back NCHSAA 4-A Central Regional titles in 2004 and 2005. This fall she won the regional with an even-par round of 72, recorded a top-five finish in the State Championships and claimed fourth place at the 2005 Innisbrook Easter Junior Golf Classic after posting a 74.6 stroke average during the fall. Billings is a two-time Wilmington Star News Player-of-the-Year recipient (2003-04).

"Kristen is one of the top two in her class academically and is a very consistent player," said to Williams. "The strength of her game is hitting fairways consistently and her amazing short game. I'm very excited about what these two young ladies bring to the table. Both will make an immediate impact for our program, plus they are both outstanding students."

The Pirates are off for the the winter and pick up again Feb. 19th when they travel to Miami, Fla. to take part in the Papa John's Collegiate.