The Minnesota women's golf program announced today the signing of Kelli Berns to a National Letter of Intent. Berns will be eligible to play for the Golden Gophers for the 2004-05 season.

Berns, from South Haven, Minn., was the 2003 section champion at Annandale High School and finished eighth at the 2003 Minnesota State High School Tournament. Berns was also the sub-section champion last season and has been named all-conference and all-state the past three seasons. She's a four-year letterwinner and a three-time team MVP. In junior play, Berns finished second at the Minnesota Players' Tour Tournament of Champions and fifth at the Junior Girls State Championship. She's also a member of the National Honor Society and is an Academic Top 10 member.

"We are very excited to keep Katie at home in Minnesota," said head coach Katie Weiss. "She's a very good junior player, but we expect her best golf to be ahead of her."