May 4, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State women's golf head coach Ray Kralis has announced the signing of three student-athletes for the 2006-07 season. In addition to recruit Britt Knutson, who Kralis signed in November 2005, Laura Harris, Christine Larson and Stacey Miller will round out the roster. All student-athletes competed in basketball and soccer in high school, in addition to golf.
"All of these athletes are very competitive, driven people," said Kralis. "I have seen glimpses of their potential from their successes on the state and local levels. They all have a three-sport backgrounds and I expect them to thrive now that they've narrowed it down to one. I feel their best golf is yet to come."
Harris, a senior at Horton High School in New Minas, Nova Scotia led her basketball team as point guard to back-to-back Provincial Championships in 2005 and 2006. The Canadian native is a three-time Nova Scotia Provincial Champion in golf, won the Nova Scotia Lady's Amateur Championship and won the Nova Scotia Girl's Provincial Championship three times in that many years. In 2004, Harris had a top-10 finish at the Canadian National Championship and captured medalist honors in the under-16 division.
"With Laura's background, we look forward to great things," said Kralis. "The thing that excites me is that she excels individually in golf and has proven herself as a leader with her successes in basketball. She has won on the biggest stages and I look for her to impact immediate success at Illinois State."
Larsen, a Waukesha, Wisc. native from Waukesha North High School, is a successful student-athlete by maintaining a 4.0 grade point average all four years of high school and excelling on the golf course as well. Larson finished in fifth place at the Wisconsin High School Championship with a two-round 153 (77,76), leading her team to a fifth place finish as well.
"Christine had a great finish to her high school career," said Kralis. "I've had a chance to watch her develop over the last couple of years and her improvement has been tremendous. The sky is the limit relative to what Christine can accomplish."
Miller, a local student-athlete from Bloomington Central Catholic High School, shot a round of 77 and took fourth place in sectionals to qualify her for the IHSA Class A State Tournament her senior year. Her low round of 76 led her to an 18th place finish at the State Tournament. In addition to advancing to the state championship individually three years straight, the Bloomington, Ill. native also won the Pekin Invitational with 79 and the Bloomington-Normal Inner City Event with a score of 74.
"Stacey is a key all-sporter," said Kralis. "She had a number of top-5 finishes in her high school and junior career with some of the strongest competition in the state. We look without boundaries for team players, but it will be special to have contributions from a player within the community."
The addition of these three signees, plus Knutson and returning players Hilary Anderson, Olivia Campos and Marci Hill brings the women's golf team roster to seven players for the 2006-07 season.
