May 25, 2006

ROMEOVILLE - Lewis University women's golf coach Skip Steffey has announced the signing of Brittany Halpin (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame H.S.), Carly Keeler (New Albany, Ind./New Albany H.S.) and Allison Snyder (Chillicothe, Ill./Illinois Valley Central H.S.) to National Letters of Intent.

Halpin was part of a Mount Notre Dame team that qualified for sectional and district competition the past two seasons. She won the Maketewah Country Club Juniors championship and played in the Ohio Optimist Tournament in 2005, and she also was an honor student and a two-year varsity letter winner in bowling.

Halpin works as a lifeguard and has been a counselor for the American Red Cross Leadership Development Camp for three years.

"Brit has outstanding promise and should develop into a fine competitor for our team in a short time," Steffey said. "If she can harness her competitive nature and maintain consistency in her game, she could be a top-five performer for us next season."

Keeler, who won the sectional title earlier this year, played four years of varsity golf and was a three-time all-conference performer and two-time regional qualifier. She earned the No. 13 ranking on the 2005 Indiana Mountain Dew Tour and owns a career-best round of 75.

Keeler served as New Albany's captain this season. A National Honor Society member and Key Club treasurer, she plans to major in marketing.

"Carly is an outstanding player with a great tournament background, and I believe she can challenge for a starting spot from the moment she joins the team," Steffey said. "I look for Carly to have an immediate impact and help our team continue to improve next year."

Snyder played four years of varsity golf, competing in the Illinois Valley Central-Dunlap girls' co-op program her first three seasons and on the IVC boys' team her senior year (following discontinuation of the co-op program). She qualified for the state tournament as a sophomore and junior, becoming the first IVC-Dunlap player to reach that level, and played on two conference championship teams and a regional winner.

Snyder advanced to sectional girls' competition and received the Sportsmanship Award this season. She teaches golf to underprivileged youth through the Hook-A-Kid-On-Golf Program.

"Ali is a tough competitor with a tremendous desire to compete at the collegiate level," Steffey said. "I look forward to adding her enthusiasm and desire to our team, and I think she'll compete for a spot in the starting five next season."