Lewis earns golf's first all-America honor

Jump to NGCAAwards FAYETTEVILLE – University of Arkansas freshman Stacy Lewis became the first Lady Razorback golfer to earn National Golf Coaches Association All-America honors, the NGCA announced on Monday. Lewis, a redshirt freshman from The Woodlands, Texas, was selected to the 12-member team by a vote of the six-member NGCA Awards Committee. "To be a first teammer as a freshman is amazing," said Arkansas head coach Kelley Hester. "It’s a huge honor to be voted in the top 11 or 12 in the country at the end of the year.” Only one other freshman was named first-team all-America, Arizona State’s Louise Stahle, who was the national player of the year. “Stacy’s selection is well-deserved,” Hester said. “Since [Stahle] announced that she was turning pro, we have the only freshman all-American returning next year. It shows that the future is very bright for Arkansas golf." The honor caps the greatest season in the 10-year history of the Lady Razorback program, and comes days after Arkansas finished the season tied for 11th at the NCAA Championships. The 2005 Southeastern Conference champion, Lewis’ all-America selection adds to a growing resume for the freshman. Lewis redshirted the 2003-04 season after having back surgery following her senior season of high school golf. Unable to even practice during her first semester of college, she re-emerged on the golf course during the second semester but was limiting to putting drills. Finally able to compete for a traveling spot for Arkansas this year, Lewis didn’t waste a minute of her time on the golf course leading Arkansas to it’s best finish at both the SEC and NCAA Central Regional and on to the team’s first ever NCAA Championship appearance. Lewis finished the year with eight top 10 finishes and became the first Lady Razorback to record three individual titles in a single season. Her biggest, and the biggest in the program’s history, was the SEC individual title captured at Tunica National, in Tunica, Miss., where Lewis posted a final round 67 setting the school record and the course competition record along the way. Lewis was named SEC Golfer of the Week twice this year, earned GolfWeek Player of the Week honors and became the program’s first SEC first-team member while earning league Freshman of the Year honors. Lewis and the Lady Razorbacks concluded the 2004-05 season tying for 11th place at the NCAA Championship at the Meadows Course in Sunriver, Ore., last week. Lewis, slowed by a sore back, finished tied for 39th overall in the four-day event. Arkansas returns four of the five traveling golfers from that event losing senior Gena Johnson to graduation this year. "Typically, at the end of the year you’re ready for a break," said Hester, "but right now, all I can think about is next year and how excited I am for our future. I know all the players are feeling that way too. We’ve accomplished a lot but we feel like we’re capable of so much more." Lewis is still out West taking part in a US Open qualifier in Vancouver, Wash., along with teammates Courtney Mahon and Lindsey Hinshaw. For more information about Arkansas golf log on to LADYBACKS.COM.
National Golf Coaches Association Post Season AwardsEleanor Dudley Division I Player of the Year: Louise Stahle, Arizona State UniversityDivision I Freshman of the Year: Louise Stahle, Arizona State UniversityGolfstat Cup: Louise Stahle, Arizona State UniversityDivision I Kim Moore Spirit Award: Mallory Code, University of FloridaDinah Shore Trophy Award: Karin Sjodin, Oklahoma State UniversityEdith Cummings Munson Golf Award: Karin Sjodin, Oklahoma State UniversityDivision I National Coach of the Year: Dan Brooks, Duke UniversityDivision I Regional Coaches of the YearEast Region: Dan Brooks, Duke UniversityCentral Region: Stephanie Cooper, University of MissouriWest Region: Melissa Luellen, Arizona State UniversityDivision I All-American Teams
1st TeamAnna Grzebien, Duke UniversityAshley Hoagland, Wake Forest UniversityElizabeth Janangelo, Duke UniversityBrittany Lang, Duke University
STACY LEWIS, UNIVERSTIY OF ARKANSASCharlotte Mayorkas, UCLADiana Ramage, Auburn UniversityVioleta Retamoza, University of TennesseeKarin Sjodin, Oklahoma State UniversityLouise Stahle, Arizona State UniversityAnnie Thurman-Young , Oklahoma State UniversityKristen White, Ohio State University
2nd TeamAmie Cochran, UCLAKay Hoey, Long Beach State UniversityLindsay Knowlton, Ohio State UniversityCarolina Llano, Pepperdine UniversityMaria Martinez , Auburn UniversitySusie Mathews , UCLALee Anne Pace, University of TulsaDewi Schreefel , USCJenny Suh, Furman UniversityAlison Walshe, Tulane University
Honorable Mention (top 10 finish at NCAAs) Niloufar Aazam-Zanganeh, Duke UniversitySofie Andersson, University of California BerkeleyClaire Dury, University of California BerkeleyKelly Froelich, University of GeorgiaNicole Hage, Auburn UniversityDenise Knaebel, University of MissouriCassandra Kirkland, University of ArizonaAnastasia Kostina, Washington State UniversityLaura Luethke, Fresno State UniversityPaige MacKenzie, University of WashingtonRachel Newren , BYUMaria Ohlsson, University of MissouriBrooke Shelton, LSUEileen Vargas, Pepperdine UniversityWhitney Wade, University of GeorgiaLeah Wigger, University of Virginia