The drive from Huntington, W. Va. into the state of Ohio is an easy one. Tee it high, and, as long as you clear the coal barges running up and down the Ohio River, your Titleist should land on the Ohio side.

While Marshall University doesn't exactly have an Ohio mailing address, some of our state's top female talents have taken notice of the school to the south, enjoying their collegiate careers in Conference USA for the Thundering Herd. Head Coach Meredith Knight Rowsey will have four Ohioans on the links next Fall, including a pair of 2010 signees.

Leading the the Buckeye Brigade in Huntington is Centerville native Molly Ginger. The junior was a three-time OHSAA State Tournament qualifier, finished in third place at the 2006 Ohio State Junior Amateur and was named Academic All-Ohio by the Ohio High School Golf Coaches Association during her prep years. She finished her freshman season with an 81.0 average, including team-best finishes at the UAB Fall Beach Blast and the Pinehurst Challenge. As a sophomore last Spring, Ginger fired an 84.3 round-average, highlighted by a 77 at the UC Spring Invitational.

Worthington Kilbourne grad, and fellow junior, Michelle Sabo has seen top flight action in two tournaments so far in her career. She fired a 174 last season at the Lady Herd Fall Classic in Huntington for the best finish of her early career.

A pair of young Ohioans will be looked to for immediate contributions when they arrive in Huntington next fall. Allison Harper, a native of Upper Arlington and Rachel Thompson of Ashland, recently signed National Letters of Intent to play next season for the Herd.

"We have stepped things up a level this year, having our best tournament scoring average ever, and I think we will be able to kick up a notch next year with the help of these incoming freshmen," said Knight-Rowsey.

Harper was named to multiple All-District and All-OCC teams during her time at Upper Arlington High School. The Second Team All-Ohio selection capped off her prep career with a seventh place finish at the state championship this fall. Harper holds the UAHS school record for lowest round with a 69 and carried a 76.0 average over her four-year career.

Thompson, a former Ashland Arrow, wrapped up her career just three strokes ahead of Harper at the state championship meet, taking home second place honors. Drawn to the campus not only for the opportunities on the course, Thompson is the cousin of Molly Ginger. Also carrying a 76.0 career average, Thompson set her high school's record with a 70 at the Edison Invitational.

"These girls were rivals during the season and have enough respect for each other that they wanted to be college teammates," said Knight-Rowsey. "I feel they have the level of desire and commitment it will take to get us into a new era."

The "new era" of Marshall's women's golf will hinge on the success of some of Ohio's finest young talents.