MCKINNON AND JOHNSON RECEIVE ALL-AMERICA SCHOLAR RECOGNITION

*2003-04 NGCA All-America Scholar Release* PDF

The National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) recently selected sophomore Casey McKinnon (St. Ignace/LaSalle) and junior Meredith Johnson (Fargo, N.D./North), both Ferris State University women’s golf team members to its 2003-04 All-America Scholar Team.

The pair were among 57 student-athletes and nine from Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC)-member schools to be chosen as Division II All-America Scholars. Both are majoring in Marketing/Professional Golf Management. McKinnon, who also earned NGCA Division II Women’s Golf All-America Honorable Mention Team honors this season, and Johnson were part of a five-member squad which guided Ferris State to its highest national championship tournament finish ever with a second-place tying performance at the 2004 NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championships (May 12-15) in Longwood, Fla. The national finish represented the highest placing ever for a FSU women’s athletics program.

Casey McKinnon

The NGCA All-America Scholar Team recognizes and honors those student-athletes in women’s golf who were outstanding in both academics and competitive golf at the collegiate level. NGCA Scholar Team honorees must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.40 for seniors in Division II and III and must have competed in at least 66% of the college’s regularly-scheduled competitive rounds during the season nominated. 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 national organization 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.

Meredith Johnson

A redshirted walk-on, McKinnon turned in a notable season performance by garnering both first-team All-GLIAC and GLIAC Freshman of the Year plaudits. She also was chosen as the recipient of the FSU women’s golf team’s Bulldog Award, which is presented annually to a squad member who displays the most dedication and hard work. McKinnon’s 81.64 stroke average (2,286 strokes) in 28 rounds was second best on the team and the 12th-best among Ferris’ all-time single-season leaders. She paced the Bulldogs with seven top 20 placings, including three in the top five. She tied for the top individual medalist at the Findlay (Ohio) William “Bing” Beall Classic (Sept. 28-29) and proceeded to win a sudden death one-hole playoff following a two-round 154 regulation score. The 2004 GLIAC All-Academic pick was also FSU’s leading performer at the GLIAC Championships (April 17-18) with a second-place 158 score and then turned in a third-place 155-stroke total at the Ashland (Ohio) Invitational (April 24-25). In postseason action, McKinnon carded a three-round 247 total at the NCAA-II East Regional in Big Rapids to tie for 11th place and then registered a team-leading 10th-place tying four-round 311 score at the NCAA-II National Championships.

Johnson became only Ferris State’s second three-time (2001-04) NGCA All-America Scholar-Athlete, joining former All-American Kathryn Bobbie (2000-03). The two-time (2002-04) Academic All-GLIAC Team member recorded an 87.95 stroke average (1,847 strokes) in 21 rounds this season. Her most productive season performance was a 12th-place showing at the Ashland Invite with a two-round 169-stroke total. Johnson, who claimed All-GLIAC Second-Team accolades in consecutive campaigns (2001-02 and 2002-03), was also recognized twice as FSU’s Bulldog Award winner during that period. Her best season was in 2002-03 when she produced a career-best 86.64 average (2,426 strokes) for 28 rounds. Johnson presently ranks tied for 11th place among the school’s all-time stroke leaders with a career 87.36 average (6,115 strokes) in 70 rounds.

Both were recognized as FSU Dean’s Academic Award honorees for the 2003-04 athletics season by the Ferris State Athletic Advisory Committee on the basis of registering a 3.25 cumulative grade point average (gpa)or higher while McKinnon also attained the President’s Award for the team’s highest cumulative gpa.