ATHENS, Ga. --- Three Peach State junior girls' golfers have signed letters of intent to compete collegiately at the University of Georgia, head coach Kelley Hester announced on Tuesday. Emilie Burger of Hoschton, Kendall Wright of Duluth and Abby Johnson of Buford all will join the Bulldogs in the fall of 2009.

"What I'm most excited about with this class is getting some good, strong Georgia talent," Hester said. "That might have been an underdeveloped part of our program over the past several years. I feel very fortunate that we were able to get all three of them."

Burger led Mill Creek High School to a sweep of the Georgia AAAAA team and individual state titles in 2008. She captured medalist honors after shooting 73 to lead the Hawks to a nine-shot victory in the team competition. Burger qualified for the 2008 U.S. Girls' Junior, where she advanced to the second round of match play competition. She has won eight Southeastern Junior Golf Tour events over the past two years, including both the 2007 and 2008 SJGT Tour Championships.

"Emilie probably has the most extensive junior golf resume of the three," Hester said. "She is a good, strong ball striker with a well-developed short game. I look for her to come in, compete immediately and have a solid four-year career at Georgia.

Wright, who is home-schooled, has captured six individual titles over the past two years – the 2008 AJGA Medicus Preseason Junior at Chateau Elan by 10 strokes, two Georgia PGA Junior Tour tournaments and four SJGT events. She also finished as runner-up at the AJGA's Club Car Legacy, the Georgia State Golf Association's Girls' Junior Championship and the SJGT Tour Championship during the past year.

"Kendall is a strong athlete who has some top national performances," Hester said. "I fully expect to see her in the lineup early in her college golf career and making a strong impact on our program."

Johnson is a two-sport standout at Buford High School. She has led the golf team to a 25-2 record in team matches over the past two years and has helped the basketball team advance to the "Elite Eight" round of the 2007 and 2008 AA State Tournaments. Johnson finished fourth individually at the 2007 Georgia AA State Tournament and has posted 11 top-10 SJGT finishes from 2006-08, including winning the 2008 Southeastern Junior.

"Abby has a very strong athletic background," Hester said. "She's a tremendous athlete who came to golf a little bit later, but I look for her to work extremely hard in the classroom, in the weight room and at the golf course. I wouldn't be surprised to see her develop into a solid contributor in Athens."

Georgia has long been a national power in women's golf. All told, the Bulldogs have posted 20 top-20 finishes at the last 30 national championships, including nine in the last 11 years. Georgia has won four national championships – the 2001 NCAA team title and individual crowns by Terri Moody (1981), Cindy Schreyer (1984) and Vicki Goetze (1992). Georgia has captured a league-best 11 SEC Championships and Bulldog golfers have won seven SEC individual titles.