Washington, D.C. -- Georgetown University has announced the hiring of Leland Beckel as the Head Coach of the Women’s Golf Program. Beckel becomes the first-ever coach of the new Hoyas’ golf team, which will begin play in the 2001-2002 academic year.

Beckel, a former professional golfer, played on the Futures Tour in 1991 and 1992. Since 1993, she has been the Vice-President of DIVOT, Inc., a golf event management company that organizes charity golf tournaments and corporate outings in the Washington metropolitan area. Among her many responsibilities at DIVOT, Beckel negotiated and secured tournament sites, coordinated sponsorship events and corporate participation, and engaged in fundraising and public relations activities.

In addition to her extensive management and business experiences, Beckel was a member of the victorious 2000 Curtis Cup Team and in 1999 achieved a national ranking of #3 on the Golfweek/Titleist National Amateur Ranking. She is currently ranked #25. Beckel competed in the 2000 U.S. Women’s Open Championship and is a five-time participant in the Women’s U.S. Amateur. In 1998 she reached the round of 16 in the Women’s U.S. Amateur, and in 1999 she was a finalist at the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. She is also the 1996 and 1999 Women’s District of Columbia Champion.

"We are delighted to have someone of Leland Beckel’s experience and talents as the first head coach of our new women’s golf program," said Joseph Lang, Director of Athletics. "Her extensive knowledge of the game of golf, familiarity with intercollegiate athletics and what it takes to be a successful student-athlete makes Leland the perfect match to build our new program."

Beckel is a 1988 graduate of the University of Virginia where she received a B.A. in International Relations and Government. She is a graduate of the Holton-Arms High School located in Bethesda, Maryland.

"I look forward to this exciting opportunity to give back to the game that I love and be involved in the teaching and education of young women," said Beckel. "Georgetown’s reputation as an excellent academic institution coupled with its history of athletics success makes women’s golf a natural fit for the Hoyas."

Beckel currently lives in Bethesda, Maryland with her husband and two children.