April 13, 2005

WACO, Texas - The Baylor women's golf program has signed 2004 Texas 5A state champion Natalie Hocott, a senior from MacArthur High School in San Antonio to a national letter of intent, head coach Sylvia Ferdon announced Wednesday.

"Natalie brings added depth to the Baylor Bears roster and when you look at her resume, she also knows how to win," Ferdon said. "As the 2004 5A state champion, she has beaten some very talented and very highly ranked juniors from the 2005 class in Texas."

Hocott won seven of 11 high school tournaments last year, including the District 26-5A and Region IV championships en route to the state title. She won in a three-hole playoff, nearly holing out a bunker shot on the final hole and became the first player from MacArthur to win the state championship since her mother, Brenda Goldsmith Hocott, won in 1973.

Also in 2004, Hocott was named the San Antonio Express-News Player of the Year and was one of only five players named to the SAJGA All-Area First Team. She finished in the top 25 at the 2005 Kathy Whitworth Invitational, fourth at the 2004 Texas State Junior Girls Championship, ninth at the 2004 AJGA Lubbock Junior, 15th at the 2004 Optimist International Championship and third at the 2003 Texas-Oklahoma Juniors.

Hocott is the daughter of Richard and Brenda Hocott. Richard is a 16-year PGA member and is the head pro at Cedar Creek Golf Course. He also played at Texas from 1975-78. Brenda is a 20-year LPGA member and is the head pro at Olmos Basin Golf Course. She played at Texas A&M from 1974-78.

"What is most important for Baylor is that she has the passion for competing at this level," Ferdon said. "With her mom and dad both being golf professionals, I know she has the bloodlines to be an impact player, but it was important for me to hear that she wanted to play for the Bears and continue to elevate our level of play nationally."

With no seniors, Hocott will join a Bears roster which should be fully intact when she arrives in the fall.