LA MIRADA—The Biola women's golf team welcomes five newcomers to their 2023-24 roster.

"This is the most recruits we have had join our team in the history of our program," stated head coach Jane Carr. "This class of recruits is going to bring a depth to our roster that has been much needed. Our freshmen have been the top of their class in their high schools, played a lot of AJGA junior golf, and many grew up in the first tee. Our transfer is going to provide veteran experience on the course."

Carr added,  "Three of our five newcomers qualified to travel for our first event in Colorado showing that they came to play. With the addition of these five players we have a good chance to be in post season play in the spring."

The Eagles five newcomers include four freshmen and one junior transfer. Biola's four freshmen are Karis Haltom, Hailey Hays, Sammy Saroyan and Theresa Shaw.

Haltom joins Biola from Immanuel High School in Laguna Niguel, California where she played four years of varsity golf. At Immanuel High School, Haltom placed second at the Section Championships and advanced to the SoCal Regionals. She also was involved in First Tee.

Hays comes to Biola from Palm Desert High School where she played four varsity seasons and graduated summa cum laude. While at Palm Desert High School, Hays helped her team become three-time league Champions and was a team captain her senior year. She also was a three-time DEL All-League selection and won 2023 Citrus Belt Athletic Conference Athlete of the Year. Hays also qualified for CIF Southern Section as an individual for three-consecutive years.

Saroyan played two varsity seasons at Mountain View High School in Boise, Idaho. She began her junior year at the fourth position and worked her way up to number two which she kept for the rest of her high school career. Saroyan helped her team become State Champions her senior year and she placed ninth individually in States.

Saroyan also had academic success, earning an honors cord for graduation. 

Shaw is BU's final freshman. Shaw is from Baja California, Mexico and was a four-year varsity athlete at Bear River High School. 

Shaw helped her team win Sections in 2019 and win three league championships. She also received honors such as four-time MVP, four-time All-League, Northern California Women's Golf Association Most Improved Golfer of the Year, NorCal PGA Jim Langley of Cypress Point Scholarship Recipient and USGA/AJGA President's Leadership Award Finalist. 

Laura Ortiz is Biola's lone junior transfer from Christian Brothers University. Ortiz played two seasons at Christian Brothers. Two notable performances were when she was tied for sixth at the Spring Bulldog Bash and placed third in the Tunica Cup. 

Ortiz is from Colombia and went to high school at Colegio Mariangela where she excelled academically, graduating first in her class.

The Eagles are gearing up for their first tournament, The Swan Memorial, which begins tomorrow (Friday, Sep. 8) in Broomfield, Colorado.