The women’s golf team will need to pack an extra set of
golf clubs for its road trip to this week’s NCAA West
Regional in Washington.
The team announced Friday that junior Hannah Jun will rejoin the
team and participate in the upcoming competition after missing most
of the season because of spinal injuries.
On Dec. 10, 2005, Jun was riding with UCLA football kicker
Justin Medlock in his 1998 Toyota Tacoma. According to police
reports, the car veered off the 405 Freeway, hit a call box, and
flipped over, landing on its roof.
Jun was trapped inside the vehicle, and Medlock was picked up by
the police later that night, reportedly looking for help.
Medlock was arrested for driving under the influence and was
reinstated by the football program on April 10 after pleading
guilty to a misdemeanor.
Jun was left with spinal and vertebra injuries, including a
fractured vertebra in her neck. Now, after months of rest and
rehabilitation, Jun has fully recovered and is ready to
compete.
“I’m pretty excited about it,” Jun said.
“I was kind of bummed not being able to participate all
season long, so it’s going to be nice to be there. I’m
really looking forward to it.”
“We are grateful that she will have the opportunity to
play in the postseason for us,” UCLA coach Carrie Forsyth
said in a written statement. “It is a huge emotional boost to
our team, and something which I believe will add to the momentum we
have been building up over the past two months as we prepare for
NCAAs.”
In the fall, Jun was ranked among the nation’s top 10
golfers. Last year as a sophomore she helped the Bruins to a
second-place team finish. She was also a key member of the 2004
team that won the NCAA national title.
But the team knows it cannot expect Jun to be at her best.
“I was a little out of shape coming back ““ but
it’s coming back slowly but surely,” Jun said.
“Our freshmen have done a really good job this year, and I
don’t think it’s going to be any different than it has
been so far. I’ll be a little rusty, but it’s nothing
more than that.”
Her presence will aid the young team, which is currently led by
freshmen Tiffany Joh and Jane Park. It will also take some pressure
off the rest of the lineup and will aid the team in its quest to
reach its final destination: the NCAA Championship in Columbus,
Ohio.