UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS WOMEN’S GOLF || @RazorbackWGOLF
Online Version: https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/hogs-add-two-in-2021-signing-class/
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Women’s Golf and Head Coach Shauna Taylor announced the signing of two future Razorbacks today, as both Giovanna Fernandez and Ffion Tynan put pen to paper. Tynan will join the Hogs in Fayetteville in January of 2021, while Fernandez will come to the Natural State in the fall of next year.
“Signing Day is always a big day for our program,” Taylor said. “It’s a time to celebrate our hard work on the recruiting trail by finding future Razorbacks to join our family. COVID-19 has thrown many curveballs at us in recruiting, but fortunately, Mike and I have been working tirelessly in recruiting the 2021 class for several years. Today is a celebration of signing two young women that will not only make a great fit into our culture but will leave a forever mark in our history books.”
Fernandez will be joining Taylor’s program by way of the Montverde Academy. The Asuncion, Paraguay native is currently ranked 93rd in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, and has several signature finishes thus far in her amateur career, including second place finishes at the Sudamexicano Amateur (2019) and the Optimist International Junior (2019), and most recently, a win at the AJGA Billy Horschel Junior, which happened just last month. In all, Fernandez has notched 21 wins worldwide.
“The people in the program made me feel at home,” Fernandez said. “They made me feel part of the team and supported.”
Fernandez will study Sports Psychology upon arrival on the Hill. Her parents are Hugo Fernandez and Adriana Lopez, and she has two brothers, Benjamin and Franco.
“Giovanna Fernandez is a home run for Arkansas Women’s Golf in the 2021 class,” Taylor said. “I remember getting an email from her a few years ago and was excited to get to know Gio and her family. Mike and I jumped on a plane and flew to Uruguay to watch her compete. It was impressive from the first swing and I knew she would make an incredible team member. She is a top 100 player in the world and will have an immediate impact on our team on and off the golf course.”
Tynan, meanwhile, will be coming to the Hogs via the Y Pant Comprehensive School in Llanharry, Wales. The future Razorback has racked up the wins during her amateur career thus far, notching victories at the Scottish Girls U18 Championship (2018), the Welsh Ladies Close Strokeplay Championship (2018), the IMG World Challenge (2017) and the English U14 Championship (2016). She also recently took fifth at the English Women’s Strokeplay Championship (2020).
“I chose Arkansas because of the awesome coaches, amazing practice facilities, friendly environment, fantastic educational opportunities and its beautiful campus,” Tynan said.
Tynan will study Recreation & Sports Management when she comes to campus. Her parents are Andrew and Claire Tynan, and she has a sister, Elin.
“Ffion Tynan is another gem for the 2021 class,” Taylor said. “I always say that recruiting is about connections and relationships, and that couldn’t be more true for Ffion. A longtime friend of mine and Mike's sent us a message about a great player from Wales. We did our research and evaluations at several competitions and we knew we had found another great fit for our program. Ffion has played all over the world and will bring her experience at competing at a high level to our program. She is a student of the game and will join us in January to get a jump start on her Razorback career. I look forward to her coming in early so that she can train, learn our system, and push her teammates to be the best version of themselves every day. Ffion is a true asset to Arkansas Women’s Golf!”