Nov. 20, 2001

LAS VEGAS - Elena Kurokawa has signed a National Letter of Intent to play women's golf for the Rebels beginning in the 2002-03 season, UNLV women's golf head coach Kelley Hester announced today.

A native of Redondo Beach, Calif., Kurokawa ranked 34th in the latest Golfweek Junior Rankings. She earned AJGA honorable mention All-America honors in both 2000 and 2001 with nine top-10 finishes and wins at the John Deere Classic Junior Championship and the Tucker Anthony Junior.

"Elena will come in and contribute immediately and also help us attract big recruits in the future," Hester said. "Not only is she an outstanding golfer, but a great student and a great personality to have on the team."

Currently a senior at Redondo Union High School, Kurokawa is a high honors student and has received Golden State Examination Awards in both algebra and chemistry.