NorthWood senior golfer Linnzie Richner signed her letter of intent Thursday to continue on at IPFW. Seated with Linnzie are parents Lori and Chad Richner. In back are NorthWood athletic director Norm Sellers and NorthWood girls golf coach Adam Yoder. (Photo by Mike Deak)

NAPPANEE – NorthWood girls golf hasn’t had one of these announcements since, well, a lifetime.

Panther senior Linnzie Richner put ink to paper Thursday, signing on to continue her golf career at IPFW. In what coach Adam Yoder could recite as only the second NorthWood golfer to ever sign a Division I letter of intent, Richner joins Gina Yoder in rare company. Yoder, the 1988 individual state champion, signed on with Michigan State.

Richner leaves the NorthWood program in tremendous shape as the Panthers have put together one heckuva run. Richner helped NorthWood to the team’s only two state finals appearances as a sophomore and senior, NorthWood hasn’t lost a dual meet in over two seasons and is 46-1 (28-0 NLC) in her four years, and the Panthers won a sectional along the way in 2014, the only one in school history. On her own, the senior played in four regional tournaments, was a three-time All-NLC performer and holds eight school records among a spreadsheet of course accomplishments.

Richner averaged a 38.5 in nine-hole play and an 80.8 for 18 holes as a senior while receiving IHSGCA All-State and Honorable Mention Academic All-State honors.

“It was huge to me as this team really became family, especially with my sisters playing with me,” began Richner among a couple dozen admirers at NorthWood Thursday afternoon. “The fact that I signed, a dream of mine since basically sixth grade since I started playing golf. Yeah, I finally made it. It’s reaching a goal, and I can finally cross it off the list.”

Richner, who carries a 3.85 GPA, will receive a four-year scholarship to play for coach Matt Zedrick. Richner is hoping to major in nursing with a focus on becoming a surgical nurse.

The spunky and colorful senior added on the advantages of playing just a couple hours away, “I can go home, when I want food. If there is ever a problem, I can always go home. But being two hours away, it’s still far enough where they aren’t going to be on my back. ‘Hey, thanks for stopping by!’ I also thought about my clothes. I can switch them out from summertime to wintertime and I don’t have to keep my entire closet with me at school.”

Yoder knows the day is important overall for his successful program, but knows Richner is very happy with the decision.

“Big day,” began Yoder. “We’ve had a lot of players go play in some pretty special places. But to have a Division I signee shows a lot about Linnzie’s commitment to her game. And we talked that it’s a nice feather in the cap to have a Division I athlete in your program.”