The John A. Logan College women’s golf team just got much stronger with Thursday’s announced signing of Marion native Lauren Bond.

The sophomore transfer has frequently shot rounds in the low-to-mid 70s and will compete for the team’s No. 1 spot when the fall season commences.

Vols head coach Bill Glenn said Bond can be a difference maker with his team.

“Lauren is a player we were interested in out of high school,” he said. “We’re very fortunate that she has decided to come on board with us. Lauren is a player who truly loves the game of golf and works hard at improving her skills. Because of her work ethic, she has gotten better every year and has posted very solid scores that don’t vary a lot. A bad day for her is usually low 80s.”

Glenn said that having a year of experience at the collegiate level with Rend Lake will make her a better player this year.

“Having already played some tournaments at our level, she will know what to expect and should hit the ground running this fall,” he said.

Bond, who just turned 19, said the decision to transfer to Logan was the right one for her.

“I’m excited about the opportunity,” she said. “It’s nice to be close to home and getting to see a lot of the girls I went to school with at Marion. I expect to enjoy my time here at Logan.”

Bond said she has been driving the ball well off the tee with the assistance of her swing coach, but could always improve her short game.

“Because of the heat, I’ve been waiting til the evening to play of late, but I feel I have gotten better as a player and am looking forward to the season. The experience of playing one year in college will most certainly take some of the nerves away.”

Bond joins fellow sophomores Talia Campbell (Mount Vernon), Liz Gentry (Carterville) and Morgan Heisner (Pinckneyville), as well as incoming freshmen Whitney Nugent (Harrisburg), Alexis Gattin (Edwardsville) and Kaitlyn McCurdy (Marion.)

Lauren said she is leaning toward pursuing a degree in dermatology. She is the daughter of Shawn and Sara Bond.