TWO FERRIS STATE WOMEN'S GOLFERS EARN ALL-AMERICA PLAUDITS

Robles Named To Second Team; McKinnon Receives Honorable Mention Accolades

*2005-06 National Golf Coaches Association Division II Women's Golf Award Winners* PDF

Two members of the Ferris State University's women's golf national runner-up team have been named to the 2005-06 National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) All-America teams for NCAA Division II Women's Collegiate Golf.

Elena Robles earned second-team All-America honors for the second year in a row.

The NGCA announced both its six-member first and second All-America squads along with 10-player honorable mention team at the recent NGCA Division II Awards Banquet in Grand Rapids, Mich., during the 2006 NCAA Division II Women's College Golf Championships.

Senior Elena Robles (Torrance, Calif./Redondo Union) earned second-team All-America accolades for the second straight year while junior Casey McKinnon (St. Ignace/LaSalle) was named to the All-America Honorable Mention squad for the second time in her collegiate career. McKinnon, who tied Robles for top team honors with a third-place 226 stroke total at the three-round 2006 NCAA-II Women's Golf Championships last weekend (May 10-13) in Allendale, Mich., also garnered honorable mention All-America laurels for the 2003-04 season.

The selection of Robles and McKinnon represents the eighth and ninth times in which a Ferris State women's golf athlete has attained All-America recognition. Furthermore, the two are only the second and third Bulldogs to receive All-America honors at least twice joining three-time (2001-03) All-American Kathryn Bobbie, who claimed first-team accolades twice (2000-01 and 2002-03). Amy Summers was the first All-America selection in the program's history (1991-92).

Robles, the 2006 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's (GLIAC) Women's Golf Athlete of the Year, paced the Bulldogs this season with a school record single-season 76.14 strokes average (2,132 total strokes) in 28 rounds. She produced a squad-high 11 top 20 finishes, which included eight among the top five placings. The three-time (2002-03, 2004-05 and 2005-06) first-team all-conference performer was the top individual medalist in three tournaments (Ball State Cardinal Classic, Northwood Invitational, and Findlay William "Bing" Beall Classic) this season. Robles, a two-time (2003-04 and 2004-05) team Most Valuable Player, guided Ferris State to the 2006 GLIAC Championships title by carding a second-place 221 score in the three-round event.

A 2003-04 All-GLIAC Second-Team selection, Robles concluded her four-year Ferris career as the Bulldogs' all-time leader with a 78.81 average (8,827 total strokes) in 112 rounds. She also was tabbed as the GLIAC's Freshman of the Year in the 2002-03 season.

McKinnon, a three-time (2003-06) first-team All-GLIAC pick, posted a career season-best 79.46 strokes average (1,996 total strokes) in 25 rounds this season. Her 79.46 average currently represents the eighth best on Ferris' single-season leaders list. The 2003-04 GLIAC Freshman of the Year and a two-time (2003-04 and 2004-05) NGCA All-America Scholar-Athlete, McKinnon turned in five top-10 finishes and 10 top-20 placements for the 2005-06 campaign. Her 80.77 career average (6,704 total strokes) in 83 rounds is fifth best on the Bulldogs' all-time average leaders chart to date.

Casey McKinnon, who registered a third-place tying individual effort at the NCAA Championships, was selected to the All-America Honorable Mention Team for the second time in her career.

Rollins' Charlotte Campbell and Tonya Choate of Drury were co-recipients of the Division II Player of the Year Award. Indianapolis' Kristi Piepenbrink was chosen as the Freshman of the Year. Amanda Houtz of Nebraska-Omaha received the Kim Moore Spirit Award while the National Coach of the Year was presented to Rollins' Julie Garner.

The criteria for being selected a NGCA All-American consists of NCAA qualifying averages (all rounds minus three highest rounds), tournament victories and average place of finish, quality of field in tournaments and being a NCAA Medalist (automatic inclusion). The NGCA, which began in 1983 as an organization to promote participation in women’s golf, is the premier member-driven association for women’s golf coaches at NCAA Division I, II and III institutions. The 250-plus member NGCA, which is headquartered in Chicago, Ill., encourages the playing of intercollegiate golf for women in correlation with a general objective of education and in accordance with the highest tradition of intercollegiate competition.

Sophomore Missy Ward (Fenton/Linden) earned a spot on this year's five-member All-East Region Team as a result of compiling a team-leading fifth-place 239 score at the three-round 2006 NCAA-II East Regional Tourney (May 1-2) in Findlay, Ohio.

Ferris' second-place finish (925 team score) at the 2006 NCAA-II Championships represents the program's highest placing ever, eclipsing the tie for runner-up honors (1,264 team score) at the four-round 2004 NCAA-II Championships in Longwood, Fla. The Bulldogs have made six national tournament appearances to date, including the last three years.