EAST STROUDSBURG - East Stroudsburg University will add women's golf as a varsity sport for the 2008-09 academic year and will begin competition this fall, it has been announced by university officials.

The addition of the program will create additional opportunities for female student-athletes at ESU and strengthens the university's commitment to women's athletics, said Director of Athletics Dr. Tom Gioglio.

ESU is a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), one of the oldest and most respected NCAA Division II athletic conferences in the nation. ESU participates in Division I conferences for men's volleyball and wrestling, competing in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association and Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association.

ESU will join California, Clarion, Kutztown and West Chester as PSAC institutions that sponsor women's golf. Gannon and Mercyhurst also have women's golf programs and will enter the PSAC as part of the conference's expansion this fall. Clarion announced in October that it will add women's golf starting next year.

There are currently five men's golf programs in the PSAC, with Mercyhurst joining existing members Clarion, Cal, Millersville, IUP and West Chester in 2008.

The PSAC golf championship is held at the end of the fall season, with the NCAA holding its championship each spring.

"As the PSAC continues to grow, we are growing our athletic department as well to provide championship opportunities for our student-athletes. The chance to start a program from the ground up and watch our athletes compete and succeed will be rewarding for everybody associated with ESU," Gioglio said.

Current and prospective ESU students who would like to try out for the team should contact head coach Dustin McCormick at dmccormick@po-box.esu.edu.

ESU currently sponsors 21 sports, including 11 women's sports and 10 men's sports. The women's sports currently competing are basketball, cross country, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, indoor and outdoor track & field and volleyball. The men's sports are baseball, basketball, cross country, football, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track & field, volleyball and wrestling.