University of Tennessee Athletics
Cantú Announces Four Signees for 2022
May 24, 2022 | Women's Golf
Tennessee's women's golf coach Diana Cantú announced the addition of four new members to the Lady Vol family Tuesday. The group includes three transfers and an incoming freshman.
Emily Hawkins will be joining the squad as a fifth-year student-athlete who spent the last four years playing at Campbell University. She is a three-time All-Big South Conference performer and was named Big South Golfer of the Year in both 2019 and 2022. The Lexington, North Carolina, native owns the second-lowest career stroke average in Campbell history (73.09). During her time as a Camel, Hawkins notched 18 top-10 finishes—nine of those during her senior year in 2022—and two first-place collegiate wins.
Before her time at Campbell, Hawkins joined Tiger Woods and Christie Kerr as the only two-time winners of the Big I National Championship (2017 and 2018). A three-time U.S. Amateur participant, Hawkins was named Carolinas Golf Association Junior Player of the Year. She also won the 2018 North Carolina Junior Amateur Championship and the 2017 North Carolina Junior Girls Championship.
"We are super excited to have Emily join our team next season," Cantú said. "She had a stellar career at Campbell University and is looking forward to continuing that in Knoxville. Emily is a consistent, focused, hardworking student-athlete who will be a great leader on our team."
The Lady Vols also signed South Carolina transfer, Paula Kirner. During her freshman year as a Gamecock in 2020-21, the Lorsch, Germany, native posted a 74.27 stroke average and earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team. As a sophomore, she competed in the Augusta National Women's Invitational in 2021.
Prior to enrolling at South Carolina, the incoming junior finished fifth at the Youth Olympic Games in 2018. The four-time German national champion also has placed second at the International Amateur Championship (2019) and third at the British Girls Championship (2017).
"Paula is mature, focused, detail oriented, organized and independent," Cantú said. "Her personality is caring and fun. She will fit perfectly with our culture. We can't wait to see her continue to grow and represent us in the best way."
Also joining the Lady Vol program is fifth-year transfer Carolina "Caro" Caminoli. Transitioning to Rocky Top from the University of Alabama, Caminoli notched a first-place finish at the Coppa d'Oro Mario Camicia in 2018 and placed second at the Cooa d'Oro Citta di Castelgandolfo in 2021.
One of the top-ranked junior golfers in Italy, Caminoli represented her home country at the European Girls' Team Championship (2014 and 2015) and the World Junior Girls Championship (2015).
"Caro is such a special young lady," Cantú said. "She has worked really hard the last four years, and she is excited to step into a new environment and show what she is capable of. She has grown and matured tremendously over the course of her career and has become a strong leader and role model, which will be extremely impactful for our team."
Caroline Patterson, an incoming freshman, rounds out Tennessee's crop of newcomers for the 2022-23 season. In 2021, the Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, native posted a third-place finish at the Florida Girl's Junior Championship, a fifth-place finish at the AJGA Arnold Palmer Invitational and a top-15 finish at the SALLY Women's Amateur.
"We are very happy to welcome Caroline to our program," Cantú said. "She has high goals and dreams for her golf game and career. We believe she will make the best use of our resources to continue her growth and represent our team at a high level. Caroline wants to be the best and will work hard to achieve that."
Emily Hawkins will be joining the squad as a fifth-year student-athlete who spent the last four years playing at Campbell University. She is a three-time All-Big South Conference performer and was named Big South Golfer of the Year in both 2019 and 2022. The Lexington, North Carolina, native owns the second-lowest career stroke average in Campbell history (73.09). During her time as a Camel, Hawkins notched 18 top-10 finishes—nine of those during her senior year in 2022—and two first-place collegiate wins.
Before her time at Campbell, Hawkins joined Tiger Woods and Christie Kerr as the only two-time winners of the Big I National Championship (2017 and 2018). A three-time U.S. Amateur participant, Hawkins was named Carolinas Golf Association Junior Player of the Year. She also won the 2018 North Carolina Junior Amateur Championship and the 2017 North Carolina Junior Girls Championship.
"We are super excited to have Emily join our team next season," Cantú said. "She had a stellar career at Campbell University and is looking forward to continuing that in Knoxville. Emily is a consistent, focused, hardworking student-athlete who will be a great leader on our team."
The Lady Vols also signed South Carolina transfer, Paula Kirner. During her freshman year as a Gamecock in 2020-21, the Lorsch, Germany, native posted a 74.27 stroke average and earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team. As a sophomore, she competed in the Augusta National Women's Invitational in 2021.
Prior to enrolling at South Carolina, the incoming junior finished fifth at the Youth Olympic Games in 2018. The four-time German national champion also has placed second at the International Amateur Championship (2019) and third at the British Girls Championship (2017).
"Paula is mature, focused, detail oriented, organized and independent," Cantú said. "Her personality is caring and fun. She will fit perfectly with our culture. We can't wait to see her continue to grow and represent us in the best way."
Also joining the Lady Vol program is fifth-year transfer Carolina "Caro" Caminoli. Transitioning to Rocky Top from the University of Alabama, Caminoli notched a first-place finish at the Coppa d'Oro Mario Camicia in 2018 and placed second at the Cooa d'Oro Citta di Castelgandolfo in 2021.
One of the top-ranked junior golfers in Italy, Caminoli represented her home country at the European Girls' Team Championship (2014 and 2015) and the World Junior Girls Championship (2015).
"Caro is such a special young lady," Cantú said. "She has worked really hard the last four years, and she is excited to step into a new environment and show what she is capable of. She has grown and matured tremendously over the course of her career and has become a strong leader and role model, which will be extremely impactful for our team."
Caroline Patterson, an incoming freshman, rounds out Tennessee's crop of newcomers for the 2022-23 season. In 2021, the Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, native posted a third-place finish at the Florida Girl's Junior Championship, a fifth-place finish at the AJGA Arnold Palmer Invitational and a top-15 finish at the SALLY Women's Amateur.
"We are very happy to welcome Caroline to our program," Cantú said. "She has high goals and dreams for her golf game and career. We believe she will make the best use of our resources to continue her growth and represent our team at a high level. Caroline wants to be the best and will work hard to achieve that."
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