By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech women's golf head coach Amanda Smith announced the addition of two players for the 2024-25 athletic season, signing Kailey Lane and Palmer Sykes to national letters of intent to play for the Golden Eagles.
KAILEY LANE
Hometown: Harriman, Tenn.
High School: Roane County High School
Lane was a student of the game while competing for the past four years at Roane County High School, slashing an estimated 18 strokes off her scoring average between her freshman and senior seasons. During her prep career, the future Golden Eagle led RCHS to four district titles.
She also helped Roane County produce a trio of regional championships and a pair of runner-up showings at the state championships. Lane was a driving force behind that success, particularly as a junior and senior when she turned in scoring averages of 75 and 72, respectively.
Named the Knoxville Area Girl's Golfer of the Year in 2022, Lane was an accomplished golfer in each of her three final seasons at RCHS. She picked up All-State honors as a sophomore, junior, and senior to cap a stellar high school career.
COACH SMITH'S TAKE
"Kailey has been outstanding throughout the recruiting process. She has really grown into a standout player these last few years. Her ability to fight and stay determined has shown me what kind of player she can be for the Golden Eagles. I could also tell how well-rounded Kailey is from all the great things said by her peers and coaches. I'm excited for her to come in and show what kind of impact she can make, not only on this team but in the Ohio Valley Conference."
PALMER SYKES
Hometown: Knoxville, Tenn.
High School: Webb School of Knoxville
Sykes put together a decorated career competing at the Webb School of Knoxville, leading her team to a pair of fifth-place finishes at the state tournament as a freshman and sophomore. She also helped Webb to district and region runner-up showings her first two seasons.
In 2022, Sykes picked up All-State First Team honors, Knoxville News Sentinal PrepXtra First Team accolades, and the Webb Spartan Award. During that junior campaign, she earned a sixth-place performance at the state championships after finishing fourth at the region tournament.
As a senior, she delivered a nine-hole scoring average of 38 with three rounds under par. Sykes also placed fifth at the region championships and 15th at the state tournament. Following a fifth-place showing at district as a freshman, she won a playoff at the region championships to advance to the state finals for the first time. She picked up a fifth-place decision at regions and an 18th-place finish at the state championships as a sophomore.
COACH SMITH'S TAKE
"It's been great getting to know Palmer and her family throughout this process. Palmer's personality on and off the course is what drew me to her. She plays as if nothing bothers her and you can tell she is such a student of the game. I know she will fit right in with this family we have here at Tech. She already knows one of our current players, Sydney Branson, who is a bright young woman as well. I know Palmer will push herself and this team to create a winning culture and we are very excited to welcome her aboard."
