Wilkinson signs with Lady Toppers

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January 12, 2009

By JOHN VERSER The Glasgow Daily Times Mon Jan 12, 2009, 10:29 AM CST

GLASGOW — Kristen Wilkinson said Western Kentucky was just the “right fit.”

Wilkinson, a Glasgow senior, recently inked a National Letter of Intent to play golf for the Lady Toppers beginning in the fall of 2009.

“I really liked the school and I really liked the coaches and the team. That was a big factor,” Wilkinson said. “It’s a great school and will provide me with a good education and the chance to play Division I golf.”

Wilkinson narrowed her choices to WKU and Centre College before picking the Lady Toppers. She is the sixth Lady Scottie golfer to further her career at the Division I level under recently retired coach Mike Harris, who said that consistency is Wilkinson’s biggest asset as she moves to the next level.

“I think the biggest thing is that she’s been consistent for us over the last four years, especially,” Harris said. “She doesn’t get in trouble very much. Being able to hit the ball straight is a big plus for her. She hits a lot of greens. That’s a big advantage in the college game. Consistency is her biggest asset.”

Wilkinson paced Glasgow to the school’s fifth state girls golf championship last fall and posted a 77-stroke average during the season. A six-year letterman and four-time all-region pick, she finished 14th individually in the 2008 state championship and helped the Lady Scotties to the All “A” title. Wilkinson also helped Glasgow to a third place finish in the state championship as a junior.

“We look forward to having her on the team,” WKU coach Chuck Eison said. “We have three other ladies that will be joining us next year and we hope that she’ll be a mainstay in the future for us. She’s a good kid. I’m glad that she’s coming.”

One of Wilkinson’s goals for the upcoming season is to make WKU’s travel squad. The top five on the team travel, and Eison said that he expects at least one of his incoming freshmen to make the travel squad.

“That’s a big challenge,” Wilkinson said. “I know the other girls coming in. I’ll have to practice as much as I can to make the top five.”

Playing against such tough competition at the high school level could give Wilkinson an advantage heading into her freshman campaign.

“Having competed against the competition that we’ve competed against in the last nine or 10 years really helps all our golfers,” Harris said. “It’s a different level, but I think that will help her adjust to the college level. She’ll have to work hard in the off season and get stronger. She’s already got the mental game. She’s got a good mindset in her decision-making.

“She improved each year. Once she got to high school, her average lowered. She averaged 77.5 this season and she improved each year in high school.”

As for Wilkinson, the GHS senior was relieved to finish the recruiting process and have her future mapped out.

“It was really stressful,” Wilkinson said. “I had to make sure that I made the right decision not only for golf, but from an education standpoint as well.”

WKU also signed Emma Robinson, of Lone Oak High School, and Dawn Wientjes of Massac County High School in Metropolis, Ill.

“This is a great opportunity for her,” Harris said. “It’s close, both her parents graduated from Western and she already has a lot of friends there. She has quite a few college credits from dual credit courses in high school. It’s a great opportunity for her to further her education and further her opportunities in golf.”

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