Taylor Signs Natalie Blonien
FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas women’s golf head coach Shauna Taylor has added another talented golfer to the 2024-25 squad, signing Natalie Blonien on Friday. Blonien is a talented junior golfer out of Altus, Oklahoma, and will look to make an immediate impact to the women’s golf program, who is currently ranked No. 3 in the NCAA.
“Blonien comes to us from Southwest Oklahoma. She was misclassified as a 2025 graduate, so her recruiting experience has been less than ideal due to this error,” said head coach Shauna Taylor. “Truth be told, I’m grateful for this mistake, as it gave us an opportunity to do our homework quickly, and we brought her to Fayetteville for an official visit a few weeks ago. Mike [Adams] and I fell in love with Natalie and her mom, Patsy. Natalie embodies everything we look for in a team member. She is excellent in the classroom, loves to compete and is grateful for this opportunity each day to get better.
“Mike, Martina [Gavier] and I went to Las Vegas to watch her play in a senior showcase two weeks ago, and after one swing, I was prepared to make her an offer. She ended up winning in a playoff, and I setup a call the next night to speak with her. It was one of the best recruiting calls I have ever made, as Natalie was ready to be a Razorback. She recognizes how special our home is and wanted to be a part of it.”
Blonien is coming off her first American Junior Golf Association win after becoming the Amundi Evian Showcase Champion with a 141 (70-71). She got the win in Las Vegas by making a birdie on the second playoff hole to secure the win. Another top finish for Blonien was at the AJGA Joplin Junior Championship presented by Roper Honda, where she tied for fifth (79-75-71=225).
A top high school golfer in Oklahoma and at Altus High School, Blonien is the 2022 Oklahoma 5A State Individual Champion, shooting a 71 and 72. She was shot a 69 in a round at the 2023 Compliance Solutions Championship. Blonien also brought the trophy back to the Sooner State for the first time in five years at the 2023 Texas-Oklahoma Junior Golf Tournament, finishing 78-68-71. She was also the 2023 Oklahoma Junior Golf Tour Player of the Year.
“Natalie has great length, she is gritty and is hungry to learn how to get better,” said Taylor. “These are the attributes we have built Arkansas women’s golf on, and she will impact us all on and off the golf course.”
Blonien credits her irons, great contact and ball striking abilities for being the best parts of her golf game. Additionally, Blonien plans to major in biology at Arkansas. She is the daughter of Patsy Villarreal, and she has three older siblings. Her sister has inspired and taught her to be the avid golfer she is today.
“I chose Arkansas because it was the best opportunity for me, my family and my future career,” said Blonien. “I’ve always heard people tell me ‘You’ll know which school to pick because it’ll feel like home,’ and that couldn’t have been truer for me about the University of Arkansas.”
“Sometimes what feels like a misfortune for a recruit ends up being a blessing for us all,” added Taylor. “I can’t wait to have Natalie join Anna Kate Nichols and Clarisa Temelo for our 2024 signing class!”
Arkansas women’s golf will take the links again for the spring slate, starting at the Puerto Rico Classic in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico from Sunday, Feb. 4 to Tuesday, Feb. 6.
More Information
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