April 24, 2007

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - After setting a school record by shooting a 311 team total on the first day of the NAIA Women`s Golf Region VIII Tournament held at Blackthorn Golf Club in South Bend, Ind., few would expect the Pilots to match that score on day two.

They didn't; instead they bettered it by a stroke.

The final round 310 and two-round 621 team total gave Bethel a 55 stroke cushion over second place Marian College and secured an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament May 15-18 in Lake San Marcos, California.

Bethel`s Shanna Page was tournament medalist, shooting a 76 for a 148 total to beat Marian's Angela Gauck by a stroke. Bethel rounded out the remainder of the top five with Kara Ballenger (3rd, 156 total), Brooke Gilbert (4th, 158) and Tricia Gregory (5th, 159).

Page, Ballenger, Gilbert and Gregory were each named to the All-Region Team and Bethel coach Danny Randolph was selected Region Coach of the Year.

The Pilots are back in action next Saturday at the Robert Morris Invitational at the Bonnie Brook Country Club in Waukegan, Ill.