Red Wolves - IU East

RICHMOND, Ind. - Ashley Mullin already knows her way around her new college golf team's home course.

Mullin, who helped the Richmond (Ind.) High School girls golf team to a pair of top-seven state finals finishes, has signed a letter of intent to play golf at IU East starting with the 2010-11 school year.

Red Wolves coach Von Ebeling announced the signing July 14.

Mullin's RHS teams played many home meets at Highland Lake Golf Course, which also serves as the home course for the Red Wolves.

"The signing of Ashley is a credit to the city of Richmond, the Richmond High School golf program and to those who have mentored her along the way," Ebeling said.

"My goal for Ashley is for her to be the first IU East women's golfer to shoot par before she graduates."

Mullin was part of Richmond's Indiana state runner-up team in 2008. The Red Devils finished seventh in the state meet during Mullin's senior year.

She helped the Red Devils claim three sectional titles and a regional crown during her high school career.

Mullin twice earned all-North Central Conference honors. Her high school career low was a 76 at the 2009 sectional.

Mullin also won multiple events on the Mountain Dew Junior Tour.

"I firmly believe that even as an incoming freshman, Ashley is ready to move to the next level of competition," Ebeling said.

Mullin says her strengths are her putting, wedge play and most shots between 75 and 115 yards. She considers herself an accurate driver off of the tee.

Ashley is the daughter of Mike and Chrisann Mullin.

"I'm pumped," Ashley said. "It's close to home and I wanted a chance to play right away and have a successful golf career."

Mullin proclaims herself a "wicked, wicked" Duke University fan.

"And not just because they won the (NCAA basketball) championships this year," she quickly added, jangling the blue Duke University bracelet she wore during her signing ceremony.

Mullin says her grandparents had a dog named Duke when she was younger, about the time she first saw a Duke basketball game on television.

"I told myself I was going to root for that team because it had the same name as my grandparents' dog," she said. "And it stuck."