FERRIS STATE WOMEN’S GOLF PROGRAM LANDS PREP RECRUIT

Port Huron Northern’s Kelley Wilkinson To Join The Bulldogs In 2003-04

Kelley Wilkinson (Fort Gratiot/Port Huron Northern) has committed to attend Ferris State University and compete in women’s golf, beginning in the fall of 2003 as announced by fourth-year FSU head coach Brad Bedortha.

“We’re happy Kelley wants to continue her golf career at Ferris State,” said Bedortha. “She’s a fundamentally-sound all-around player and a good student, who should fit in well with our team concept. “I believe she has the work ethic and abilities to contribute right off the bat,” added Bedortha.

Wilkinson played an integral role in helping guide Port Huron Northern High School to three consecutive (2001-03) Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) State Final appearances and four (2000-03) Macomb Area Conference Red Division Championship titles during her four-year prep career under head coach Linda Peattie. This season, the Huskies placed eighth at the 2003 MHSAA Division I state finals as Wilkinson was the team’s top individual finisher with a two-round 174 stroke score and placed 24th overall. For the season, Wilkinson compiled a career-best and team-leading 43.9 strokes average while posting a sixth-place performance at the regional tournament.

Ferris State's 2003 recruiting class begins with Kelley Wilkinson.

As a junior in 2002, Wilkinson’s 45.2 stroke average ranked second among the team leaders behind teammate Kelly Easton, who recently completed her freshman season as a member of the University of Michigan women’s golf team. Wilkinson placed 14th individually after carding a two-round 168 total at the MHSAA Division I State Finals as Port Huron North finished third at the state championship finals while garnering second place at regionals.

Wilkinson, who swings right handed, posted a 46.5 average as a sophomore during the 2001 campaign which was second best on the team. She totaled a 13th-place individual finish at the state finals tourney as the Huskies notched a fourth-place team finish. In 2001, Wilkinson held the distinction of having the lowest scoring average (90.0) on the Meijer Juniors Players Tour for girls in the 14-15 age division and was tops among 36 girls in that particular age division. On the Meijer Tour, she recorded top individual medalist honors twice in tournament play and finished runner-up on two other occasions. Wilkinson also is a two-time (2001-02) winner of the Big “I” Insurance Junior Tournament, which is held at Marysville, Mich.

Besides golf, Wilkinson is a four-year member of the school’s bowling team and twice (1999 and 2001) was an individual state qualifier.

“Kelley wasn’t heavily recruited and I believe as a result, she’s driven to work harder and become a productive golfer,” said Bedortha, who was recognized as both the 2002-03 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Women’s Golf Coach of the Year and the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) Division II East District Coach of the Year.

Scholastically, Wilkinson is a member of both the National Honor Society and Student Council. The daughter of Randy and Cathy Wilkinson, Kelley is planning to pursue a degree in secondary education at Ferris State.

This spring, Ferris State placed second at the GLIAC Championships (April 26-27) and concluded its season with a third-place effort at the NCAA-II East Regional (May 6-7), which was held at Findlay, Ohio.