Kent State women’s golf coach Mike Morrow wrapped up the recruiting season last week with the signing of Mercedes Germino, who won this year’s Argentina Junior Championship.

The previous week Morrow added Shamira Marshall and Mandi Morrow, his daughter, to an already deep pool of talent for next season.

Morrow said the three recruits should help the team recover quickly after senior leaders Tara Delaney and Kira Meixner finish up their final seasons this spring.

“We’re going to lose two of the best golfers we’ve ever had in the program, and it’s a big hit,” Morrow said. “We’re really happy that we’re bringing in three quality golfers to solidify the team and carry on the tradition of the program.”

Germino, the team’s second recruit from Argentina in two years, first came to the attention of Morrow through freshman golfer Martina Gavier, who has finished in the individual top 12 in three tournaments this season.

Gavier had played against Germino in tournaments in South America and recommended the younger Argentinean golfer to Morrow.

“Mercedes is a very accomplished junior golfer,” Morrow said. “She’s used to playing against top caliber golfers and that’s a big plus.”

Germino finished second at the 2007 Argentina Amateur Championship, and played on Argentina’s junior national team, which won the 2006 South American Junior Championship.

Morrow said the two other recruits may lack the experience of Germino, but both have a tremendous amount of potential. He said Marshall, who won first team All-Ohio honors her junior and senior years of high school at Nordonia High School in Macedonia, Ohio, will be a key addition to the team.

“Shamira’s already a real good player, but she also has a lot of potential,” Morrow said. “She will really be an asset to the program.”

Morrow said he thinks his daughter, Mandi Morrow, has grown up with the benefit of being familiar with the program, which will help her adjust to the college game. She finished fifth at the state championship and also won All-Ohio first team honors in her senior year at Roosevelt High School in Kent.

“She’s been around the program for 10 years,” Morrow said. “We get along great, and I’ll coach her the same as I would coach anyone else on the team.”

The women’s golf team ended the first half of its season ranked 14th in the nation after placing in the top five of every tournament it played in. The team will start the spring season Feb. 18 at the Central District Invitational in Parrish, Fla.

Contact golf reporter Thomas Gallick at [email protected].