Catching up With … MARY JAN FERNANDEZ

Thursday, Nov. 14, 2002 | 9:16 a.m.

For Nov. 14, 2002

High School: Green Valley ('00)

Where she is now: Tennessee

Class: Junior

Sport: Golf

Currently: After spending her freshman season at Tulane, Fernandez transferred to Knoxville and has found her place with the powerful Lady Vols. Fernandez has posted a stroke average of 76.82 in four fall tournaments for Tennessee, including a low round of 67. Her best finish is a 14th-place showing at the Auburn Tiger Derby, and Fernandez has two top-25 finishes. Tennessee is flourishing, catapulting all the way to a No. 8 ranking in the Golfweek/Sagarin team rankings. The fall season is over for Fernandez and the Lady Vols, who resume action in February.

Looking back: Fernandez is yet another member of the powerhouse Green Valley golf teams of the late '90s to move on to success. The Gators won four state titles during Fernandez's tenure, when the backbone of the Green Valley national record dual match winning streak was constructed. A two-time winner of the Nevada State Amateur, Fernandez also earned team MVP honors with Green Valley during her sophomore year. The 20-year-old Fernandez has been ranked as high as 14th in the Golfweek /Sagarin junior rankings.

archive