ROBLES CHOSEN AS GLIAC WOMEN'S GOLF ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

*2005-06 All-GLIAC Women's Golf Release* PDF

Elena Robles

Missy Ward

Becky Hoffman

Casey McKinnon

Elena Robles (Torrance, Calif./Redondo Union) of the Ferris State University women's golf team was selected the 2005-06 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Women's Golf Athlete of the Year as released Monday (April 24) by the conference office.

The honor came after the senior helped Ferris capture the 2006 GLIAC Championships title by finishing second place on the individual leaderboard with a three-round 221-stroke total.

Robles was also among four Bulldogs to receive first-team All-GLIAC accolades as she was joined by sophomores Missy Ward (Fenton/Linden) and Becky Hoffman (Gaines/Swartz Creek) along with junior Casey McKinnon (St. Ignace/LaSalle). All four were all-conference first-team performers a season ago.

Freshman Raquel Hansen (West Olive/Grand Haven) earned All-GLIAC Second-Team plaudits and freshman Meghan Hunter (Dexter) attained honorable mention all-conference laurels.

The All-GLIAC Women's Golf Team selections were based upon a player's stroke average in her 10 best rounds in league play, including the three rounds of the GLIAC Tournament. All ties were broken by total strokes in the GLIAC Tourney.

Ferris State seventh-year head coach Brad Bedortha was named the GLIAC Coach of the Year for the third time in his career. Bedortha previously received the award in 2000-01 and 2002-03. He was honored as the National Golf Coaches Association's (NGCA) National Coach of the Year in 2004-05.

Robles achieved All-GLIAC honors in each of her four years, garnering first-team distinction three times (2002-03, 2004-05, and 2005-06). She was a second-team all-league selection in 2003-04. Robles, a 2004-05 NGCA All-America Second-Team pick, becomes only the third Ferris golfer besides Kathryn Bobbie (2000-01, 2001-02, and 2002-03) and Casey McKinnon (2003-04, 2004-05, and 2005-06) to collect All-GLIAC First-Team honors for three years. The 2002-03 GLIAC Freshman of the Year, Robles is presently averaging a team-leading 75.55 strokes per round (1,662 total strokes) in 22 total rounds this season. The two-time (2003-04 and 2004-05) FSU Most Valuable Player leads the Bulldogs with 10 top-10 finishes this season, including seven in the top five and has been the top individual performer at three tournaments this campaign. She has compiled a school-record 78.84 career average (8,357 total strokes) in 106 rounds to date.

Ward, who finished fourth at the 2006 GLIAC Championships with a three-round 230 score, is averaging a team second-best 78.41 (1,725 total strokes) in 22 rounds of competition. She has produced eight top-20 performances, including four in the top five. Hoffman, the 2004-05 GLIAC Freshman of the Year, has posted a 79.36 average (1,746 total strokes) for 22 rounds this campaign. The 2004-05 NGCA All-America Honorable Mention Team member has turned in eight top-20 efforts this season, which includes three top-five efforts. McKinnon is now a three-time first-team All-GLIAC selection and is presently averaging 79.89 strokes (1,746 total strokes) in 19 rounds. She has accumulated eight top-20 placings with four of those being in the top 10. McKinnon was a 2003-04 NGCA All-America Honorable Mention selection and was the GLIAC's Freshman of the Year in 2004-05.

Brad Bedortha received GLIAC Coach of the Year honors for the third time in his coaching career.

Hansen has notched an 81.85 stroke average (1,637 total strokes) in 20 rounds this season while totaling five top-20 showings, including two in the top five. Hunter, who finished tied for seventh with McKinnon at the 2006 conference tournament with a 233 score, has averaged 80.39 strokes (1,447 total strokes) in 18 rounds. She racked up six top-20 finishes this season.