Western Courier

Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Adam Sacasa Junior Becky Allen chips from the rough Monday during the Summit League Championships held at the Harry Mussatto Golf Course in Macomb.

Finishing in sixth place, Western Illinois junior Becky Allen was named Second Team All-Conference and led the Westerwinds to a fifth-place finish at the Summit League Championships Tuesday.

"I am pleased with our overall finish," said coach Lia Biehl-Lukkarinen. "We had a rough fall and a short spring, but I expected us to finish ahead of what we were seeded (eighth)."

Allen shot a 76 Tuesday, her lowest round of the tournament, for a 54-hole score of 237 (77,84,76). The Stanley, Wis., native knocked six strokes off her final score from the 2007 championships held at Centenary. Allen earned All-Conference honors for the third straight year and is only the second player to ever hold conference honors in Western history, with alumnus Karra Johnson as the only other.

"I am so proud of Becky," Biehl-Lukkarinen said. "It is great to see her finish in the Top 10 again and earn All-Conference honors."

Jennifer Holt was the only other returning player from last season to compete in the conference championships. The sophomore finished tied for 15th with a three-round total of 247 (84,85,78), her third Top 20 finish of the year.

All freshmen made up the final scores for the Westerwinds' lineup, with Claire Gursh leading the newcomers with a score of 256 (87,88,77) and a tie for 25th. Elizabeth Fernandes finished four strokes back of Gursh in a tie for 29th with a score of 256 (83,85,88). Lindsey Wandrey rounded out the lineup with a share of 39th place and a score of 263 (88,89,86). Four of the five had their best round in the final round.

"The freshmen rallied after a rough first few days," Biehl-Lukkarinen said. "We're young, and we have some good returners coming back as well as some new additions, so I know we won't have any trouble getting even closer to the top of the leader board next year."

Oral Roberts' Christy Carter shot par on the first and final days to win the tournament with a 217 (72,73,72) and lead the Golden Eagles to a championship title with a team score of 917. South Dakota State finished second with a score of 959, and Oakland landed third with a 987.

Just one stroke ahead of Western was North Dakota State with a 989.

"You can't go back and knock some strokes off like you would like," Biehl-Lukkarinen said. "This finish will give us good momentum going into the summer and fall."

-Western Illinois University
Athletics Media Services

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