C-N's Sinard Earns Women's Golf First Team All-SAC Accolades

April 20, 2009

ROCK HILL, SC -- Carson-Newman junior Sarah Jane Sinard (Jefferson City, Tenn.) has been named to the women's golf All-South Atlantic Conference first team, league officials announced Sunday evening.

Sinard recorded five top 10 finishes, including three in the top five. Sinard turned in her best performance on Oct. 21, winning the Aramark Collegiate Invitational. Her scoring average of 79.9 led the Lady Eagles and ranked fifth in the SAC.

Sinard becomes the first C-N women's golfer to earn the honor for a program in its first season.

Newberry College's Maria Besio, who won one tournament and led the league in scoring average in her first season, was named Women's Golf Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year.

The awards were presented Sunday night at Etowah Valley Country Club in Etowah, N.C., where the 2009 Food Lion SAC men's and women's golf championships are being held.

Wingate University's Dr. Jerry Surratt was named Women's Golf Coach of the Year, also winning for the second year in a row.

Wingate's Kacie Braxton received the Women's Golf Scholar Athlete Award.

Joining Besio on the Women's All-Conference First Team are: Sinard, Catawba's Kelsey Babos, Tusculum's Mary Ann Vizcarrondo, and Wingate's Ashley Denton.

The second team consists of Lenoir-Rhyne's Brenna Martens, Lenoir-Rhyne's Katie Thackerson, Wingate's Anna Huzelius, Wingate's Andrea Velasquez and Braxton.

2009 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE WOMEN'S GOLF AWARD WINNERS

First Team All-SAC
Sarah Jane Sinard, Carson-Newman
Kelsey Babos, Catawba
Maria Besio, Newberry
Mary Ann Vizcarrondo, Tusculum
Ashley Denton, Wingate

Second Team All-SAC
Brenna Martens, Lenoir-Rhyne
Katie Thackerson, Lenoir-Rhyne
Kacie Braxton, Wingate
Anna Huzelius, Wingate
Andrea Velasquez, Wingate

WOMEN'S GOLF COACH OF THE YEAR - Dr. Jerry Surratt, Wingate
WOMEN'S GOLF PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Maria Besio, Newberry
WOMEN'S GOLF FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR - Maria Besio, Newberry
WOMEN'S GOLF SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Kacie Braxton, Wingate University