Taylor Inks Three

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Julia Gregg, Kajal Mistry and Ela Anacona put pen to paper today signing National Letters of Intent joining the University of Arkansas women’s golf team head coach Shauna Taylor announced today.

The trio of incoming freshmen boast numerous international amateur honors as well as state high school titles. They will step in after the graduation of one of the most highly decorated classes in Razorback women’s golf history as seniors Kaylee Benton, Maria Fassi, Cara Gorlei and Dylan Kim all graduate next spring.

From Coach Taylor

“Signing Day is an exciting time for any program. We work tirelessly in the recruiting process to find the perfect fit for our women’s golf program. We want young women who value education and are committed to working hard in all areas. We lose a big core of our team to graduation this year, but I know with our current team members and the addition of these three outstanding young ladies that our future is bright. It’s a great time to be a part of Arkansas women’s golf and I know these signees will add experience, depth, and will help us achieve our academic and athletic goals.

Julia Gregg

Farmer’s Branch, Texas | Prestonwood Christian Academy

Gregg is a three-time USGA Girls Junior qualifier who joins the Razorbacks from Prestonwood Christian Academy in Farmer’s Branch, Texas. Her amateur accomplishments include qualifying for the USGA Women’s Amateur and USGA Women’s Amateur Four-Ball in 2017. Gregg was the 2016 medalist at the Cameron McCormick Junior All-Star event and a Drive, Chip, and Putt National Finalist at Augusta National Golf Club. She posted runner-up finishes at the Texas Women’s Amateur and the Nike Junior Invitational in 2018 and at the AJGA Valero Junior in 2017.

Gregg has also won back-to-back high school TAPPS 6A Individuals titles in 2017 and 2018 while pacing her team to a 5A team title in 2016. Gregg is the daughter of Judy Morgan and Monte Gregg. She has an older brother, Justin.

“There are few people you meet in the recruiting process that have an immediate impact on you,” said head coach Shauna Taylor. “Julia Gregg is one of those people and I felt from day one she had to be a Razorback. Our program’s values align perfectly with the things she believes in. She is an excellent student in the classroom and on the golf course. She has a drive to be the best at everything she does and is eager to help carry on the rich tradition of honor, integrity, and excellence that our program stands for. Arkansas women’s golf struck the lottery when Julia picked us.”

Kajal Mistry

Johannesburg, South Africa | Crawford college-Lonehill

Mistry is the fifth South Africa native to sign with the Razorbacks. Her 2016 victories included the Ekurhuleni Open, Boland Open, Mpumalanga Open and KwaZulu-Natal Junior Championship and she went on to a No. 1 ranking, a spot she held for her junior and senior years. Mistry played on the WGSA Amateur circuit and captured memorable wins at the South African Women’s Amateur Stroke Play in 2017 and the Nomads Rose Bowl in 2018.

Mistry’s first American tournament was at the ANNIKA USA Invitational 2018 where she earned a sixth-place finish. She represented South Africa at the junior and senior levels and was a member of the 2018 South African World Amateur Team in Dublin, Ireland and also competed at the Toyota World Junior Championship in 2017 and 2018 as well. Mistry was the winner of numerous WGSA provincial and national titles and was awarded the WGSA Player of the Year 2016-17.

Mistry is the daughter of Nilesh and Pretiksha Mistry. She has an older brother, Nikhil, and a younger sister, Puja.

“We always talk about how relationships are vital in recruiting,” said Taylor. “It could not be truer than us connecting with Kajal and her family. Kajal has played a lot of junior/amateur golf with Cara Gorlei on our team. Cara spoke very highly of Kajal and from that point we started recruiting her to come to Arkansas. South Africa has been good to Arkansas women’s golf and this is no exception. Kajal will come to the USA with a lot of international competition under her belt. She has represented her country across the world and has won on many different levels. She is eager to arrive in Fayetteville and get started.”

Ela Anacona

Buenos Aires, Argentina | Instituto San Vincente de Paul

Anacona joins the Razorbacks from Buenos Aires, Argentina, with a very decorated junior and amateur career thus far. Her victories include the Optimist International and Doral Publix at the age of 13 and has been the top ranked Argentinean Amateur over the last two seasons (2016-2017 & 2017-2018). She picked up a victory at the South American Junior Team Championship in 2016, and played to the individual title in 2017. Anacona was second at the last three ANNIKA Invitational Latin America events and won a bronze medal at the youth Olympic games (mixed competition). She won the Copa Los Andes (South American Amateur Team Championship, match play) in 2017 and is a three-time winner of the Argentinean Open.

Anacona is a member of the Argentinean National Team and represented Argentina at the World Amateur Team Championship in Mexico 2016 and in Ireland in 2018. Anacona is the daughter of Adrian Anacona and Delia Baisch.

“I was sitting at my computer one day when I received an email from Ela talking about her interest in Arkansas women’s golf,” said Taylor. “I had followed Ela for many years as she has been a force in the junior golf rankings. She won the Optimist International and the Doral Publix Junior at the age of 13. Winning is hard to teach so having such a seasoned freshman will be advantageous for our team. I even went to Argentina to meet Ela and her family and I knew even more from my time there that she was a perfect fit. She is hungry to learn and is fully committed to helping us continue the rich tradition of excellence in all areas that we strive for each day. She adds a lot to our depth and I’m excited to for her arrival in August.”

More Information

Keep up with all of the latest news and information and get behind the scenes looks into our program on our social media accounts. Follow us on Twitter at @RazorbackWGolf and check out our Facebook page “Razorback Women’s Golf.” Stats, news and player information can be found at ArkansasRazorbacks.com.