COLUMBIA, MO. – The University of Missouri Women's Golf program has added prep standout Emily Staples of Orlando, Fla. to its program, as announced today. Staples, ranked among the top 200 seniors in the country according to Junior Golf Scoreboard (No. 18 in the state of Florida), has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Mizzou and play golf for Head Coach Stephanie Priesmeyer.
Staples is an accomplished junior golfer who has three top-10 finishes to her credit at AJGA tournaments, including a second-place showing at the AJGA Junior All-Star at Cook's Creek in 2018 (71-72-74 = 217). In 2019, Staples fired a three-under par 69 in qualifying and advanced to the prestigious USGA Girls Junior Amateur Championship, held in Stevens Point, Wisc.
Staples has also been all over the leaderboard while representing her Freedom High School team in the Florida State High School championships the past four years. A two-time FHSAA district medalist (with a pair of runner-up showings as well), she achieved top-10 finishes twice at the FHSAA State Championships, while also finishing 20th in 2019. At the regional level, she finished second, third and ninth competing for Freedom High.
Staples experienced a unique situation as a senior, as she had to play on her school's boys team this fall, due to the fact that Freedom High didn't have enough girls to field a team. Because of that, Staples played with the boys team in tournaments during the regular season (leading the team with an average of even par), then had to qualify for post-season in the girls events as an individual.
"Emily has been all in with Mizzou for quite some time and we love her excitement about our program and our University," said Head Coach Stephanie Priesmeyer. "We were able to watch her in a tournament in Kansas City a few summers ago and built a great connection with her and her family. We look forward to adding Emily to our team next fall and we know she will hit the ground running with her strong work ethic and positive attitude," she said.
Staples is the second recruit under Priesmeyer from the state of Florida, as she follows former standout Michelle Butler (Dunedin, Fla.) who became one of Mizzou's most decorated golfers, and who is now an assistant coach across town at Columbia College.
A Florida Junior Tour Champion (Riomar Country Club, 2016), and a member of the prestigious 2017 Junior Florida Cup North Team, Staples tied for 10th in 2018 at the Florida Women's Amateur Championship.
"From the moment I stepped on campus, I knew Mizzou was where I wanted to be," said Staples. "The support I felt from the coaches and team on my visit stood out to me unlike anywhere else. They fully invest in you as a person, with academics and athletics, giving me so many great opportunities to succeed. Everyone is a family at Mizzou and I can't wait to be part of it all," she said.
An outstanding student who is a National Honor Society member, Staples is interested in studying biology at Mizzou, with plans to someday be a dermatologist.
For all the latest on Mizzou Women's Golf, stay tuned to www.MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter (@MUWomensGolf) and on Facebook at MizzouWomensGolf.