Radley Signs Two For 2022-23
11/17/21 | Women's Golf
EUGENE, Ore. – The Oregon women's golf team has signed a pair of highly-regarded student-athletes for the Ducks' 2022-23 roster in Minori Nagano and Anika Varma, head coach Derek Radley announced on Wednesday.
Nagano will join the Ducks as a junior college transfer from Seminole State College in Florida. Varma comes to Oregon from Granite Bay High School in Roseville, Calif.
"We are thrilled that both Minori and Anika have decided to continue their athletic and academic careers at the University of Oregon," Radley said. "Both are extremely wonderful young ladies who will be a perfect fit into our culture, and we can't wait to get them to Eugene and get to work."
Minori Nagano | Tokyo, Japan | Seminole State College
Nagano is a sophomore in her third year at Seminole State College, where she attended after going to Tritaku High School. She is currently No. 87 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, which would be second-best among current Ducks behind only Hsin-Yu (Cynthia) Lu (No. 43). She led Seminole State to its third NHCAA National Championship in program history last spring, shooting 5-under par to also win the individual national title. Nagano has five individual wins as a Raider, also taking the individual title at the Jupiter Collegiate Invitational, JU Amelia Island Collegiate, Spring Break Shootout, and Lynn Women's Invitational. She also qualified for and competed in the 2021 U.S. Women's Open. The Tokyo, Japan, native has been ranked as high as No. 59 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings and will have two years of eligbility with the Ducks.
"Minori is a proven superstar and we are beyond excited to welcome her to our Duck family," Radley said. "She aspires to play professional golf one day and we look forward to watching her shine on the big D1 stage for the next couple of years. I'd like to thank her current coach at Seminole State, Christa Teno, who was a tremendous help throughout the recruiting process."
Anika Varma | Roseville, Calif. | Granite Bay High School
Varma will join the Ducks as a freshman in the fall, and she is coming off an impressive ninth-place showing at the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship. She has won individual titles at the IMG Academy Junior World Florida Challenge in 2019, and more recently at this year's AJGA Reno/Tahoe Junior Championship. Prior to going to Dubai for the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship – where she met Nagano, who finished 38th – Varma earned a second-place finish at the West Coast Women's Amateur. The Roseville, Calif., native also placed second at the 2021 California Junior Chapionship, fifth at the 2021 California Women's Championship, and fifth at the 2019 Ladies Professional Event. She has been ranked as high as No. 134 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.
"We are very excited to welcome Anika to our Oregon family," Radley said. "She has proven herself on the big stage for a long time and is extremely driven with big dreams. She comes from a wonderful and supportive family and we are thankful she chose to join ours. Sky is the limit with this one we couldn't be more excited."
Nagano will join the Ducks as a junior college transfer from Seminole State College in Florida. Varma comes to Oregon from Granite Bay High School in Roseville, Calif.
"We are thrilled that both Minori and Anika have decided to continue their athletic and academic careers at the University of Oregon," Radley said. "Both are extremely wonderful young ladies who will be a perfect fit into our culture, and we can't wait to get them to Eugene and get to work."
Minori Nagano | Tokyo, Japan | Seminole State College
Nagano is a sophomore in her third year at Seminole State College, where she attended after going to Tritaku High School. She is currently No. 87 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, which would be second-best among current Ducks behind only Hsin-Yu (Cynthia) Lu (No. 43). She led Seminole State to its third NHCAA National Championship in program history last spring, shooting 5-under par to also win the individual national title. Nagano has five individual wins as a Raider, also taking the individual title at the Jupiter Collegiate Invitational, JU Amelia Island Collegiate, Spring Break Shootout, and Lynn Women's Invitational. She also qualified for and competed in the 2021 U.S. Women's Open. The Tokyo, Japan, native has been ranked as high as No. 59 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings and will have two years of eligbility with the Ducks.
"Minori is a proven superstar and we are beyond excited to welcome her to our Duck family," Radley said. "She aspires to play professional golf one day and we look forward to watching her shine on the big D1 stage for the next couple of years. I'd like to thank her current coach at Seminole State, Christa Teno, who was a tremendous help throughout the recruiting process."
Anika Varma | Roseville, Calif. | Granite Bay High School
Varma will join the Ducks as a freshman in the fall, and she is coming off an impressive ninth-place showing at the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship. She has won individual titles at the IMG Academy Junior World Florida Challenge in 2019, and more recently at this year's AJGA Reno/Tahoe Junior Championship. Prior to going to Dubai for the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship – where she met Nagano, who finished 38th – Varma earned a second-place finish at the West Coast Women's Amateur. The Roseville, Calif., native also placed second at the 2021 California Junior Chapionship, fifth at the 2021 California Women's Championship, and fifth at the 2019 Ladies Professional Event. She has been ranked as high as No. 134 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.
"We are very excited to welcome Anika to our Oregon family," Radley said. "She has proven herself on the big stage for a long time and is extremely driven with big dreams. She comes from a wonderful and supportive family and we are thankful she chose to join ours. Sky is the limit with this one we couldn't be more excited."
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