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sports:
women's golf
Furuta returns
to roots
By Dwight Flenniken
III
On-line Forty-Niner
Melanie Furuta
transferred back home from Oregon State University to help
the Long Beach Beach women's golf team win a conference title.
"She is a real
solid addition to the team," said Sue Ewart, Long Beach State
women's golf coach.
While attending
Long Beach Poly High School, Furuta narrowed her list of potential
universities to three: Oregon State, Washington State and
the University of San Francisco. She chose Oregon State
because it had the best golf program.
Furuta sat out
her first year as a redshirt freshman, and problems with her
coach played a part in wanting to come home. Furuta golfed
only one year of eligibility while away with the Beavers.
"The golf program
wasn't really what I expected," Furuta said. "It became a
bad situation."
Another reason
for Furuta's transfer is her relationship with Ewart. Being
from Long Beach originally, Furuta has known Ewart for many
years.
"She is one of
the better players for Long Beach State in a long time," Ewart
said. "She brings competitive experience and leadership."
Furuta hopes to
flourish at The Beach, where she has a strong support system
of family and friends.
"It's really fun
for me because I grew up here," Furuta said.
With the addition
of Furuta, the LBSU golf team looks toward a shot at the Big
West conference title.
"Were going to
be pretty good this year," she said.
Furuta is scheduled
to play in four of the first five tournaments for the 49ers.
The first fall
tournament is in Fort Collins, Colo. on Sep. 10-11. Furuta
and the 49ers first home tournament is on Sep 17-18 in Oak
Valley at the PGASC Golf Club and is sponsored by LBSU and
UC Riverside.
Furuta will return
to Corvallis, Oregon on Oct. 8-10 to do battle in the Oregon
State Invitational at Trysting Tree Golf Club. This is the
same course she played and practiced on for two years.
"I think it will
be fun to play the course again," Furuta said.
Furuta has three
years of college eligibility left and is expected to make
an immediate impact in the 49ers' run for the title this year.
The Big West conference
will consist of six teams this year for the first time ever.
This gives the winner of the conference an automatic bid to
the Western Regional tournament, which is a pre-qualifier
for the NCAA tournament.
"I'm excited to
be back," Furuta said. "I think we should win our conference."
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