Amanda DeJiacomo (center) recently signed scholarship papers with Lee University’s women’s golf program. She is joined in the signing by her father Dan DeJiacomo (left) and her mother Karen DeJiacomo (right). Lee golf coach John Maupin and Amanda’s brother Jason DeJiacomo are standing.
Coach John Maupin is quickly wrapping up his recruiting for the 2010 season. He recently announced the signing of Amanda DeJiacomo, a current senior at Pickens County High School in Jasper, Ga.
DeJiacomo played high school golf coach for Harold Culbreth at Pickens County, but says her entire family has influenced her golf career and supported her every step of the way. ”My brother (Jason) also played college golf and has always encouraged and helped me with my golf game,” said Amanda.
She began playing golf in middle school, but did not get serious until her junior year of high school. “I started playing junior tournaments last summer and spend every day at the golf course,” she pointed out.
Last year, her Pickens County golf team won the 7AAA Region Golf Tournament and she placed third in the individual competition. She also tied the school record during a 9-hole match by shooting a 38. This past summer, she won the Georgia Junior PGA Tournament at The Frog Golf Course and made it to the Georgia Junior Tour Championship. She recently posted a hole-in-one while playing at her home course, Big Canoe.
DeJiacomo feels the strongest part of her game is probably my putting. “I am working on hitting longer drives and improving my short game,” she added. Before deciding on Lee, she considered Shorter, Berry, Oglethorpe, and Mercer.
One visit to the Lee campus was all it took to sell the new recruit on her new home for the next four years. “It is beautiful and makes me feel at home. The people seem friendly and the environment makes a great place for college,” she allowed. “Coach Maupin is determined to make the new golf program its best and I look forward to being a part of the team. I am very excited about becoming a member of Lee's golf program and hope to have a positive impact on helping Lee become a national contender.”
DeJiacomo lettered in varsity soccer her freshman and sophomore years. She stopped because golf season was at the same time as soccer and admitted she wanted to pursue golf instead. It turned out to be a wise decision. She’s earned a golf scholarship and has been MVP for the varsity golf team since her sophomore year.
Being a star in the classroom also helps provide extra scholarship dollars. She ranks sixth out of a senior class of three hundred seniors. “I received the UGA Certificate of Merit for being in the top five percent of my class,” she noted. “My junior year, I was awarded “Outstanding Student” and have been awarded Star Student my senior year.”