Golfer Lauren Allen to Sign with Missouri S&T

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senior golfer Lauren Allen will sign with Missouri University of Science and Technology to play golf for the Miners next fall. She will participate in a ceremony at St. Francis on Wednesday.

“I am very excited knowing I get to continue to play the sport I love while getting a degree I know I’ll love,” said Allen. “Making a career out of connections with others that play the sport is a dream come true for me.”

Allen focused on Division II schools while researching school and her specific degree interests and found 10 that featured a golf team and an engineering degree. Missouri S&T was one of the top schools on the list and she knew she had found her home.

“The coach reached out to me last year and could not say enough about the school,” said Allen.

The school is located in Rolla, Mo., and is rated by Newsweek as one of the best public university investment for out-of-date students in the country.

“I am hoping to get a major in mechanical engineering while minoring in aerospace because the two go hand-in-hand at the school,” said Allen. “I will get a broad understanding of engineering and be able to apply it to something that I would like to do in the future.”

Allen grew up playing several sports but golf was always her favorite, growing up on a golf course in Southern California. But she wanted to focus on one sport in high school.

“I had to pick a sport that I wanted to play,” said Allen about her choice of golf in the eighth grade. “I had really excelled in golf and did not think my basketball career would go much farther. Golf had a lot more room to grow.”

Allen was a four-year letter winner of the golf team at St. Francis.

“My freshman and sophomore year I did not take it as serious as I should have,” said Allen. “But after my sophomore year summer, I told myself I had to get serious.”

Allen improved her stroke average almost eight strokes per nine holes from her freshman to senior seasons. She shot a career-best 39.9 in dual matches this season with a season-best even-par 36 against Elk Grove.

“Coach Bert (Jones) really showed us how much commitment really goes into the sport,” said Allen. “That really showed me how hard it is to actually play collegiate golf and what the commitment would be. This past summer I chose that path and wanted the commitment.”

Allen was part of three consecutive league titles, helping the Troubadours to an undefeated league record this season. The Troubadours advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters, finishing fourth overall. Allen was also part of the CIF NorCal finalist as a junior.

Allen will participate in the St. Francis signing ceremony on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.