Carson-Newman's Tarbet named SAC Women's Golfer of the Year; Ray receives second team All-SAC honors
ROCK HILL, S.C. — Carson-Newman senior Jessica Tarbet (Corryton, Tenn.) has been named the South Atlantic Conference Women's Golfer of the Year, while junior Erica Ray (Maryville, Tenn.) was named second team All-SAC, league officials announced Friday.
ROCK HILL, S.C. — Carson-Newman senior Jessica Tarbet (Corryton, Tenn.) has been named the South Atlantic Conference Women's Golfer of the Year, while junior Erica Ray (Maryville, Tenn.) was named second team All-SAC, league officials announced Friday.
Tarbet, who led the conference with a 77.4 strokes per round average, had had four top-five finishes and won medalist honors at the Agnes McAmis Memorial tournament. Tarbet has two career tournament wins and 11 career top five finishes. Tarbet also received first team All-SAC honors in 2010.
"I'm very proud of Jessica," C-N head coach Amanda Moore said. "The Player of the Year award is a testament to the hard work and dedication that she has made to her golf game this year, and she is very deserving. Her leadership on and off the golf course will definitely be missed next year."
Ray had two fourth-place finishes this year for the Lady Eagles and finished in the top 20 four times. Her stroke average of 81.9 ranks 14th in the conference.
"Erica has also worked hard this year," Moore said. "Her season was highlighted by a tie for fourth at TPC Sawgrass and an 11th place finish at Salisbury. Her competitiveness and desire to improve will allow her to continue to get better. We will definitely be looking to her for leadership next season."
Joining Tarbet on the first team are: Maria Luz Besio, Barbara Castro and Julia Daneshfar from Newberry and Ashley Denton from Wingate.
The second team consists of Katie Thackerson and Brenna Martens from Lenoir-Rhyne, Brittany McCown from Lincoln Memorial and Natalia Perez from Newberry.
Newberry head coach Lauren McCants, who guided the Wolves to six top-three finishes in the eight tournaments they competed in, was named Women's Coach of the Year. She wins this award for the second year in a row.
Anderson University's Katie Eskew was named the women's Freshman of the Year. This season, Eskew led Anderson with an 82.1 stroke average, including one top-five finish and a pair of top-ten finishes.
Lincoln Memorial's Kirsten Wolff was selected the women's golf Scholar-Athlete for the second year in a row. The Scholar-Athlete award is selected by the SAC's Faculty Athletic Representative committee.
The 2011 Food Lion SAC women's golf championships begin Monday at Rock Barn Golf and Spa in Conover, N.C. The awards will be presented following Tuesday's final round.
Women's All-Conference
First Team
Jessica Tarbet, Carson-Newman
Maria Luz Besio, Newberry
Barbara Castro, Newberry
Julia Daneshfar, Newberry
Ashley Denton, Wingate
Second Team
Erica Ray, Carson-Newman
Katie Thackerson, Lenoir-Rhyne
Brenna Martens, Lenoir-Rhyne
Brittany McCown, Lincoln Memorial
Natalia Perez, Newberry
Player of the Year: Jessica Tarbet, Carson-Newman
Freshman of the Year: Katie Eskew, Anderson
Coach of the Year: Lauren McCants, Newberry
Scholar-Athlete: Kirsten Wolff, Lincoln Memorial
