Goodwin bolsters CU golf with McGrath signing
LAWTON, Oklahoma (January 25) – Cameron Aggie head women’s golf coach Rick Goodwin today officially announced the signing of Kass McGrath, a redshirt sophomore, to his squad for the 2008-2009 season. McGrath has already begun taking classes at Cameron this semester but will not begin playing until next fall. She is the younger sister of former Aggie golf standout Janel Bailey and the daughter of Harry Bailey III, who also played collegiate golf at CU.
“Kass is a really good player and a legacy,” Coach Goodwin said. “She comes in with the reputation of being a good junior player and she has the ability to help our team. She has the confidence and the competitive spirit that you are looking for in an athlete, and you get that when you first talk to her.”
McGrath began her collegiate career by playing one semester at Lenoir-Rhyne College (Hickory, North Carolina) where she was the team’s top golfer. At LRC, she finished the 2005 season ranked No. 2 in the South Atlantic Conference. McGrath also recorded a fifth place finish in the Catawba Invitational golf tournament.
From LRC, McGrath moved onto Paradise Valley Community College (Phoenix, Arizona). At PVCC, she recorded seven, top six finishes including a first place victory at the Dobson Invitational golf tournament.
McGrath also racked up a number of accolades while at PVCC. In 2006, she was named to both the NJCAA All-American Second Team and the NJCAA Region One All-Conference First Team. She was also named the Paradise Valley Community College Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player.
Additionally, McGrath secured a spot in the NJCAA National Championship after finishing as the NJCAA Region One All-Conference Second Runner-Up. “She has a junior college record that speaks for itself,” Coach Goodwin said. “Experience is a big factor in this game and she’s got it.”
At Union High School (Tulsa, Oklahoma), McGrath was a four-year letterman on the Redskins golf team. She was the South Central Junior PGA Player of the Year in 1999, 2001, and 2003, and won the organization’s Special Award in 1999. She has also recorded four hole-in-ones in her career.
“I’d like get back to the conference-championship level very quickly,” Coach Goodwin said. “I don’t want to rebuild, just reload; and she gives us that capability. She brings so much to the table and has the experience and the youth to help bring the program together.” McGrath’s older sister, the aforementioned Janel Bailey, was Cameron’s top golfer when the team won the Lone Star Conference Championship in the spring of 2007. Bailey transferred to Cameron from McNeese State and made an immediate impact on the Aggie squad.
“Kass’ sister came in for just one year and did an outstanding job for us. She was instrumental in us winning the conference,” Coach Goodwin said. “But Kass’ high school record is better than Janel’s.” McGrath is an Art major at Cameron.
“With Kass and the returners we have we should be significantly better very quickly,” Coach Goodwin said. “With the young team that we have this year and their maturity after a year of playing, it should all come around. It’s all part of the master plan.”
