Nov. 19, 2008

SPOKANE, Wash. - Genna Dodge of Post Falls, Idaho, and Victoria Fallgren of Lakewood, Calif., have signed women's golf letters-of-intent to attend Gonzaga University next year.

"Victoria and Genna are great students and have the family support we are looking for in our program," head coach Brad Rickel said. "I am extremely happy both decided to be Zags and it definitely signals a new era of our women's golf program."

Dodge, who was home schooled until her junior year then attended North Idaho College in a dual enrolling program, will have played No. 1 all four years at Post Falls High for coaches Jeff Hinz and Darrell Hull. She won regional titles as a freshman and sophomore, shooting 79 and 77, respectively. Her sophomore year she placed sixth in the Idaho State Championship at the Lewiston Country Club and fourth as a junior at Twin Falls Golf Course. She set a record at the Banner Bank Invitational at the Walla Walla Country Club with a 36-hole scored of 150 after rounds of 75-70. She also qualified for the Jr. World with rounds for 78-72 for a 36-hole total of 150 at Tumwater, Wash., and played at Carlton Oaks Country Club in San Diego, Calif., this past summer in the Jr. World.

She is a four-time Lady Golfer of the Year at Post Falls High and is a three-time North Idaho Female Golfer of the Year. Post Falls won 8-of-11 tournaments this past season and she holds the school record for lowest score average (77) and lowest round (73). Patti Marquis is her swing coach.

She carries a 3.87 grade point average. She comes from an athletic family. Uncle Joseph Carlson rowed for UCLA; aunt Donalee Carlson swam for UCLA and also competed in the 1976 Olympic Games, and cousin Colleen Carlson is a sophomore on the University of San Diego volleyball team and cousin Kristen Carlson played volleyball for the Toreros and was in the Class of 2007.

"Genna is the longest hitter I have ever been around in junior golf. Because of her power she has an unlimited potential and will get better every year in college," Rickel said. "She does not have as much tournament experience as some, but is eager and enthusiastic about learning the game of golf. With her power I believe she will become one of the best golfers in the country as she gains tournament experience."

Fallgren attends Gahr High in Cerritos, Calif., where she is coached by Steve Orr.

Active on the junior golf scene where she has played more than 100 tournaments the past three seasons, she qualified for the USGA Women's Amateur National Championship in 2007 and '08, and the USGA Junior Girls National Championship in 2006. In 2008 she had a stroke average of 76.6, and 21 Top 10 finishes in 32 tournaments. She also played on Southern California's America's Cup team that set a tournament record of 10-under par, Fallgren shooting 71-73-75 for 219 for third place individually.

She is a two-time San Gabriel League Player of the Year and a four-time San Gabriel League first-team selection. The Long Beach Press Telegram has named her to the first team "Dream Team" each of the past three years (the 2008 team has not been announced).

Fallgren is captain of the Junior Amateur Golf Scholars Western All-Star team and has been a Tiger Woods National Junior Golf Team member for three years. She has a 4.17 weighted GPA and has been on the honor roll six semesters.

She also has Gonzaga ties as her uncle, Jason Van Nort, was a 4-year men's basketball letterwinner for the Bulldogs, earning West Coast Conference honorable mention recognition in 1985.

"Victoria is the most accomplished junior golfer to ever sign at Gonzaga," Rickel said. "She will bring an experience level that will help us take our next step toward being a top golf program. She is a great student and her passion for tournament golf and academics will be a key addition to our team. I look for Victoria to make an immediate impact not only with her golf, but also on our overall approach to being the best we can be. The passion she shows for becoming the best she can be and working hard to get better is exactly what our program needs."