McConnell signs with Saints

Whitefish stand-out golfer Kiley

McConnell has committed to join Carroll College’s golf team next

year. The Lady Bulldog won the Northwestern A divisional tournament

as a freshman and again this season as a senior. She took fifth at

the Class A state tournament.

“Carroll is going to be a great match

for her,” Whitefish golf coach Terry Nelson said. “She’s a great

student, and Carroll is one of the best academic schools.”

McConnell is a 3.7 GPA student.

“Golf wise, it’s a good match, too,”

Nelson said. “She’ll be able to play for them right away.”

Nelson says college recruiters looks at

a player’s performance over their past few seasons but focus on the

most recent results. McConnell consistently posted rounds in the

70s and low 80s her senior season, including a first-round 78 at

the Class A state tournament.

“She won eight of 10 tournaments this

year,” Nelson noted. “Kiley is a determined individual. I’m really

proud of her. She knew what she wanted, and she went after it.”

Carroll golf coach Bennett MacIntyre

noted Whitefish’s outstanding reputation for junior golf and called

recruiting McConnell a “coup.”

“Whitefish has a reputation for

developing and encouraging junior golf,” MacIntyre said. “It’s one

of the best programs in the state.”

MacIntyre expects McConnell to start on

the varsity team as a freshman if she can adjust to the extended

length of courses at the collegiate level.

“Kiley has demonstrated the ability to

compete and regularly be at the top of the scoreboard,” he

said.

Carroll College’s women’s golf team

finished third in the Frontier Conference Championships in 2010.

The golf season is split between fall and spring.

MacIntyre noted that 2010 graduate Joel

Mallams has transferred from Concordia University in Portland, Ore.

to play golf for Carroll College next year. Mallams took sixth

overall at the Class A state tournament in 2009.