WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Women's Golf and head coach Zack Byrd announced the addition of three new Boilermakers on National Signing Day. Samantha Brown (Westfield, Indiana), Michaela Headlee (Carmel, Indiana) and Lauren Timpf (Macomb, Michigan) are set to join the team for the 2024-25 season.
The trio had outstanding high school golf careers and closed them out with an exclamation point at their respective state tournaments. Brown won the individual state championship in Indiana, while Headlee finished runner-up to lead the Carmel Greyhounds to the team title. In Michigan, Timpf cruised to an 8-shot victory to become state champion for the third straight year.
"Lauren (Guiao) and I set a goal to bring the top local talents here to Purdue to build the foundation of our future," said Byrd. "The signing class is exactly what we envisioned – the top two players in Indiana and top player in Michigan in their respective classes. All three come from world class families and are perfect examples of what a Boilermaker should be. We cannot be more excited to sign this class. Boiler Up!"
Brown joins the Boilermakers, ready to take her game to the next level after winning 24 out of 28 high school tournaments. She finished 1-under par throughout her entire high school career, which included a staggering cumulative 37-under as a senior. With a 2-under 142 (68-74), including going bogey free over her first 28 holes, Brown secured the 2023 IHSAA State Championship by four strokes. She also collected the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award and helped Westfield finish second as a team. Along with her state championship, the four-time all-state honoree won her conference all four years, sectionals three times and regionals twice.
On the amateur circuit, Brown claimed victories at the Indiana Junior PGA Championship, a nine-stroke win at Purdue's Ackerman-Allen Course, as well as the Indiana Girls State Junior Championship. For her performance on one of the Boilermakers' home courses, she advanced to the national stage and cracked the Top 25. Brown earned runner-up honors at the 2023 Indiana Women's Open, which included facing professionals. She tied for third at the Pete and Alice Dye Junior Invitational, one of the top junior tournaments in the country.
"Sam has skyrocketed up the ranking, proving herself as a top recruit in the nation for the class of 2024," said Byrd. "Since committing, her growth and drive to be great has us extremely excited for her future as a Boilermaker."
While Brown won the individual state title, Headlee placed second at 2-over to help Carmel secure the IHSAA Championship for the second straight season. It marked the second time Headlee finished runner-up at the state tournament, accomplishing the feat as a freshman as well. She earned all-state honors all four years of high school. Headlee produced a 75.3 stroke average her first season before dropping it down to 73.1 as a senior.
Headlee had a strong 2022 amateur campaign, winning four Indiana Junior Golf titles. She was victorious at the Covered Bridge Spring Series and also earned medalist honors at the Southern Masters. The Carmel, Indiana, native also added the Masters Tour Championship and the Hoosier Junior Championship to her trophy case.
"During the recruiting process, Michaela showed such a passion and desire to be a Boilermaker," said Byrd. "Over the last year, her game has improved so much, and her potential is exciting to see."
Another state champion joining the Boilermakers, Timpf used rounds of 74 and 67 to win the 2023 MHSAA Division 3 Girls Finals. That performance capped off a three-peat, as she captured the individual crown in 2021 and 2022. Timpf's 2022 title was a special one as she led Macomb Lutheran North to a team state championship. She won her regional tournament all four years of high school as well. After a 74.8 stroke average as a freshman, Timpf improved her scoring to 70.1 as a sophomore and 70.6 during her junior campaign.
Closing out her high school career, Timpf was named 2023 Miss Golf by the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association. Her senior season featured a 69.4 stroke average, which led to medalist honors at 10 events. Timpf also became Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) Player of the Year and Macomb Country Player of the Year. She captured the GAM Junior State Amateur Championship twice.
"Lauren is a three-time high school state champion and won numerous times in Michigan junior and amateur golf," said Byrd. "Her ceiling is incredibly high, and she is one of the strongest ball strikers that I've ever recruited."
The trio had outstanding high school golf careers and closed them out with an exclamation point at their respective state tournaments. Brown won the individual state championship in Indiana, while Headlee finished runner-up to lead the Carmel Greyhounds to the team title. In Michigan, Timpf cruised to an 8-shot victory to become state champion for the third straight year.
"Lauren (Guiao) and I set a goal to bring the top local talents here to Purdue to build the foundation of our future," said Byrd. "The signing class is exactly what we envisioned – the top two players in Indiana and top player in Michigan in their respective classes. All three come from world class families and are perfect examples of what a Boilermaker should be. We cannot be more excited to sign this class. Boiler Up!"
Brown joins the Boilermakers, ready to take her game to the next level after winning 24 out of 28 high school tournaments. She finished 1-under par throughout her entire high school career, which included a staggering cumulative 37-under as a senior. With a 2-under 142 (68-74), including going bogey free over her first 28 holes, Brown secured the 2023 IHSAA State Championship by four strokes. She also collected the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award and helped Westfield finish second as a team. Along with her state championship, the four-time all-state honoree won her conference all four years, sectionals three times and regionals twice.
On the amateur circuit, Brown claimed victories at the Indiana Junior PGA Championship, a nine-stroke win at Purdue's Ackerman-Allen Course, as well as the Indiana Girls State Junior Championship. For her performance on one of the Boilermakers' home courses, she advanced to the national stage and cracked the Top 25. Brown earned runner-up honors at the 2023 Indiana Women's Open, which included facing professionals. She tied for third at the Pete and Alice Dye Junior Invitational, one of the top junior tournaments in the country.
"Sam has skyrocketed up the ranking, proving herself as a top recruit in the nation for the class of 2024," said Byrd. "Since committing, her growth and drive to be great has us extremely excited for her future as a Boilermaker."
While Brown won the individual state title, Headlee placed second at 2-over to help Carmel secure the IHSAA Championship for the second straight season. It marked the second time Headlee finished runner-up at the state tournament, accomplishing the feat as a freshman as well. She earned all-state honors all four years of high school. Headlee produced a 75.3 stroke average her first season before dropping it down to 73.1 as a senior.
Headlee had a strong 2022 amateur campaign, winning four Indiana Junior Golf titles. She was victorious at the Covered Bridge Spring Series and also earned medalist honors at the Southern Masters. The Carmel, Indiana, native also added the Masters Tour Championship and the Hoosier Junior Championship to her trophy case.
"During the recruiting process, Michaela showed such a passion and desire to be a Boilermaker," said Byrd. "Over the last year, her game has improved so much, and her potential is exciting to see."
Another state champion joining the Boilermakers, Timpf used rounds of 74 and 67 to win the 2023 MHSAA Division 3 Girls Finals. That performance capped off a three-peat, as she captured the individual crown in 2021 and 2022. Timpf's 2022 title was a special one as she led Macomb Lutheran North to a team state championship. She won her regional tournament all four years of high school as well. After a 74.8 stroke average as a freshman, Timpf improved her scoring to 70.1 as a sophomore and 70.6 during her junior campaign.
Closing out her high school career, Timpf was named 2023 Miss Golf by the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association. Her senior season featured a 69.4 stroke average, which led to medalist honors at 10 events. Timpf also became Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) Player of the Year and Macomb Country Player of the Year. She captured the GAM Junior State Amateur Championship twice.
"Lauren is a three-time high school state champion and won numerous times in Michigan junior and amateur golf," said Byrd. "Her ceiling is incredibly high, and she is one of the strongest ball strikers that I've ever recruited."