TWO WOMEN GOLFERS EARN ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT HONORS

Hoffman and McKinnon Recognized For Academic Achievements

Two members of the nationally-ranked Ferris State University women's golf team, junior Becky Hoffman (Gaines/Swartz Creek) and senior Casey McKinnon (St. Ignace/LaSalle), have been named to the 2007 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV College Division Women's At-Large Team as announced Thursday (May 24) by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Hoffman was among 10 individuals to earn first-team accolades while McKinnon joined 10 other student-athletes on the second team. As a result of her first-team recognition, Hoffman has earned a spot on the national ballot with the Academic All-America At-Large Team being announced this June.

The pair, who recently led Ferris State to a third-place national finish at the 2007 NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championships (May 9-12) in Pace, Fla., are making the first CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic District IV At-Large Team appearance in their collegiate careers.

Hoffman, a 2006-07 National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) Division II Women's Golf All-America Honorable Mention Team laurels, recorded both a team-leading and career-best 76.86 stroke average (2,152 total strokes) in 28 rounds this season. Hoffman's stroke average this campaign marked the second-best ever among the program's all-time single-season leaders. The three-time (2004-05, 2005-06, and 2006-07) All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) performer turned in 11 top-20 finishes with four occurring in the top five. Hoffman's best performance this season was a second-place 219 score at the 2007 NCAA-II East Regional (April 30-May 2) in Big Rapids, Mich., which earned her all-region recognition. She was the Bulldogs' top individual golfer in four 2006-07 season tournaments.

Hoffman currently ranks tops on Ferris' all-time stoke average leaders list at 78.49 per round (6,750 total strokes) in 86 rounds. She has produced 30 top-20 finishes, including 11 top-five efforts, in her three-year career.

Hoffman was honored as the 2004-05 GLIAC Freshman of the Year and also was the 2004-05 winner of team's Bulldog Award for dedication and hard work.

Academically, Hoffman has been tabbed a NGCA Scholar-Athlete All-America honoree for two straight seasons (2004-05 and 2005-06) while earning conference all-academic team plaudits the last two seasons (2005-06 and 2006-07).

McKinnon averaged 78.50 strokes per round (2,198 total strokes) in 28 rounds to finish with squad's fourth-best average this season. She placed among the top 20 eight times for the 2006-07 campaign, which featured a pair of top-five showings. McKinnon captured top team honors in back-to-back tournaments this fall -- Northwood Invitational (Sept. 29-30) and the Findlay William "Bing" Beall Classic (Oct. 1-2). She achieved medalist status at the Northwood Invite as a result of netting a first-place 148-stroke total. McKinnon, a two-time (2003-04 and 2005-06) NGCA All-America Honorable Mention selection, placed fifth with a three-round 234 score at the GLIAC Championships (April 20-21) and then followed with an eighth-place 228 total at the NCAA-II East Regional en route to helping the Bulldogs claim the regional crown.

McKinnon's season stroke average this campaign represents the seventh best on Ferris' all-time single-season leaders list. She received first-team all-conference kudos in each of her four years and owns the distinction of being the only second Bulldog women's golf athlete to accomplish the feat.

The 2003-04 GLIAC Women's Golf Freshman of the Year, McKinnon concluded her career ranking seventh among the school's leaders with an 80.19 stroke average (8,902 total strokes) in 111 rounds. McKinnon racked up 32 top-20 career finishes, which included nine among the top five. The four-time (2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, and 2006-07) GLIAC All-Academic Team pick has also been a NGCA Scholar-Athlete All-American three seasons in a row (2003-04, 2004-05, and 2005-06). McKinnon has been the women's golf team's Bulldog Award recipient twice (2003-04 and 2005-06).

Hoffman and McKinnon join former three-time All-American Kathryn Bobbie as FSU women's golf team representatives to receive all-academic district accolades. Bobbie was twice (2001-02 and 2002-03) a second-team all-district pick.

Nominees for the at-large team were taken from student-athletes in the sports of bowling, crew, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis and water polo with each NCAA institution allowed to submit three total nominees for consideration.

In order to be considered, student-athletes must have a minimum 3.20 cumulative grade point average, have reached sophomore standing both academically and athletically, have completed at least one full academic year at their current institutions, and participated in at least 50 percent of their team’s competitions.

The team is selected by a vote of CoSIDA members within District IV, which includes schools in Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee.