O’BRIEN & HENDRICKSON ARE NEW LUERS ONE-TWO PUNCH

In 2004, Bishop Luers Lady Knights Golfteam surprised everyone. Led by the one-two punch of All Area selection senior Abbey Waltke and All-SAC freshman Kristi O’Brien (both from St. Therese), the Luers linksters had a winning record and advanced all the way to Regional. But after Waltke graduated, many people might have thought this year would be a down year.

Think again! Led by their NEW 1-2 combo of O’Brien and fellow sophomore Heather Hendrickson, Luers young and restless carved out another solid season with a 7 – 4 won–lost record, the highlight being a major upset of undefeated Snider at Fairview. Kristi was medalist with 38 beating Snider’s Racquel Hopton by 2. Heather fired 43, senior Courtney Seward 48, sophomore Haylee Eckert 48, and senior Maria Henry 49. The Knights also bested all other SAC teams in the 12-team Northrop tourney, finishing 3rd overall.

Though the Luers team barely missed advancing from sectional this year, they shot their year’s best tourney total. Both Waynedalers however did qualify for Regional as an individual.

Much improved Heather Hendrickson had an 18–hole tournament average of 92, and a 9-hole match average of 45. She was co-medalist twice. Her season low scores were 40 (twice) and 87 in the Snider tourney. She capped it off with an All-SAC conference selection!

Kristi O’Brien had what only could be described as a magical season!! In just 7 high school tournaments of 35 to 60 kids competing in each, Kristi was the overall medalist champion in 3 of them! She won the Bellmont Invitational at Grey Goose with an 80. Next, she won the Northrop Invitational beating the top golfers in N.E. Indiana, shooting 77 at Colonial Oaks. She was overall medalist or co-medalist in 8 of Luers 11 high school matches in 2005. Then Kristi capped the season off by firing a 76 to win the Norwell Sectional Championship. She also shot 78 in Regional at Noble Hawk. Kristi was named to the All-SAC and All Area teams. She also was nominated for the All State team. O’Brien also broke the Luers school record for best 9-hole and 18-hole averages (40 and 79), lowest 9-hole score (34) and lowest 18-hole score (76). Kristi became the 1st Sectional champion in school history.

Next year looks super bright for Coach A.J. Kalver. This young team will be even better yet next fall, and will graduate nobody after 2006. Other promising team members not listed above are: sophomores Amber Gottfried & Erin Springer, and a sparkling young freshman Chelsea Pritchard.