FSU WOMEN'S GOLF RECEIVES TOP ACADEMIC AWARD

Ferris State earned the 2008 NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championships' Top Academic Team Award. (Photo courtesy of NCAA Photos)

The nationally seventh-ranked Ferris State University women's golf team recently received an academic award from National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the 2008 NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championships (May 13-16) in Houston, Texas. The championships were held in conjunction with the NCAA-II Spring Championships Festival.

The Bulldogs, under interim head coach Mike Mignano, earned the award for having the highest team grade point average (gpa) among the participating women's golf teams at nationals. The seven-member team recorded a 3.29 cumulative gpa.

Members of the 2007-08 squad are seniors Becky Hoffman (Gaines/Swartz Creek), Missy Ward (Fenton/Linden), and Kaitlyn Hogan (Big Rapids), juniors Raquel Hansen (West Olive/Grand Haven), Meghan Hunter (Dexter), and Alison Meyer (Duluth, Minn./Central), and freshman Jacqueline Benscoter (Metamorra/Lapeer West).

Ferris State placed fourth nationally at the 2008 NCAA-II Women's Golf Championships held at Houston's Memorial Park Golf Course as the Bulldogs carded a four-round 1,239-stroke total.

The 2008 national appearance represented the fifth straight for the Ferris State women's golf program, which has never finished lower than fourth place.