HONOLULU – University of Hawai'i women's golf coach Lori Castillo secured commitments from Maryssa Shigesato of Mililani, O'ahu and Madeleine Ystrom of Stockholm, Sweden for the 2010-11 season. Both signed their National Letters of Intent during the early signing period.

 

Shigesato, a senior at Mililani High School, competed at the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego, Calif., over the summer and tied for 42^nd place and also tied for eighth at the AJGA Heather Farr Qualifier. She was the only Hawai'i golfer to compete at the 2008 College Golf Combine in Burbank, Calif., and was named to the second team West All-Combine Skills Team. That same year, she placed seventh in the women's open division of the Hawai'i State Open.

 

In high school, Shigesato captured the 2009 O'ahu Interscholastic Association West championship and placed third at the OIA Championship that same year. She has captured a total of 11-of-14 OIA West tournament titles since her freshman year.

 

“Maryssa shows tremendous potential with solid mechanics after playing and competing for only a few years,” Castillo said. “Examples of her work ethic, discipline, and dedication are what it takes to become a complete golfer.”

 

In 2009, Ystrom had 14 starts on the Skandia Tour and made the cut in 13 of those tournaments with eight Top 10 finishes. She captured two tournament titles – Skandia Tour Riks-Varmland and Skandia Tour Regional-Stockholm – and averaged 79.2 strokes over 31 rounds, ranking her 31^st on the Skandia Tour.

 

A seasoned veteran on the Swedish amateur tour, Ystrom has won eight tournaments with five runner-up finishes over her career. She also placed in the Top 10 26 times in 75 tournaments played. In 2004, she won the Stockholm “Order of Merit” for the lowest scoring average.

 

Ystrom is also a multi-sport athlete who competed in soccer and floor ball, the latter of which she won Europe's biggest tournament two years in a row. She will be the second UH golfer from Sweden, joining countrywoman Erika Lundberg, a sophomore from Vallentuna.

 

“Maddy is a strong and serious golfer from Sweden who has played on the Swedish Amateur Tour for many years with a mid-70s scoring average,” Castillo said. “She has proven to have the fortitude to play this game at a high level in her country. Becoming part of our program and playing all year-round in Hawai'i, will only enhance the growth of her talent as she strives to become one of the best golfers in the world.”

 

The Rainbow Wahine golf team recently completed their fall season. The spring season begins in February with the Aztec Spring Invitational in San Diego, Calif.