FERRIS STATE SELECTS WOMEN’S GOLF AWARD WINNERS

Sophomore Elena Robles (Torrance, Calif./Redondo Union) of the nationally runner-up Ferris State University women’s golf team has been chosen as the 2003-04 squad’s Most Valuable Player while sophomore Casey McKinnon (St. Ignace/LaSalle), the 2003-04 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Freshman of the Year, was named the winner of the Bulldog Award as announced by fifth-year FSU head coach Brad Bedortha.

Elena Robles has the second-best career average among Ferris State's all-time leaders.

Robles, who registered a team-best 80.77 stroke average (2,100 strokes) in 26 rounds this campaign, was an All-GLIAC Second-Team pick this season. Her 2003-04 season average marked the seventh best among Ferris’ career single-season leaders. She compiled six top 20 finishes this campaign, including a team-high tying three in the top five highlighted by a second-place tying effort at the Western Michigan Bronco Invitational (April 11-12) in Portage, Mich. Robles led the Bulldogs to the 2004 NCAA Division II East Regional title (May 4-5) with a team-leading third-place 233 three-round score en route to receiving all-region laurels. She then carded a 21st-place 318 four-round stroke total at the 2004 NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championships (May 12-15). A season ago, Robles’ career-best 80.50 average (2,254 strokes) in 28 rounds is the fifth-best single season average in the program’s history to date. She went on to receive both first-team all-conference and GLIAC Freshman of the Year plaudits in 2002-03. For her career, Robles has posted an 80.63 average (4,354) in 54 rounds which currently represents the second-best average among the school’s all-time leaders.

Casey McKinnon was the Bulldogs' leading finisher at both the conference and NCAA Championship tournaments this season.

McKinnon was named the recipient of the Bulldog Award, which is awarded annually to a FSU women’s golf team member who displays the most dedication and hard work. McKinnon, a walk-on who redshirted last season, turned in a noteworthy performance this season by garnering All-GLIAC First-Team kudos. Her 81.64 stroke average (2,286 strokes) in 28 rounds was the squad’s second best and is the 12th-best single-season average in school history. McKinnon paced Ferris with seven top 20 placings and three in the top five. She achieved top individual medalist honors at the Findlay (Ohio) William “Bing” Beall Classic (Sept. 28-29) by winning a sudden death one-hole playoff following a two-round 154 score. The 2004 conference all-academic pick was the Bulldogs’ top performer at the GLIAC Championships (April 17-18) with a second-place 158 score and then turned in a 155-stroke total the following week (April 24-25) at the Ashland (Ohio) Invitational. She shot a 247 three-round total at the NCAA-II East Regional in Big Rapids to tie for 11th place and registered a team-leading 10th-place tying four-round 311 score at the NCAA-II National Championships.

Ferris State turned in a program-best second-place tying performance with a four-round 1,264 score (+112) at the 2004 NCAA-II National Women’s Golf Championships held at The Legacy Club at Alaqua Lakes in Longwood, Fla. The Bulldogs, who tied Florida Southern for second place, recorded the highest-placing ever for a FSU women’s athletics team by surpassing the 1998 Bulldog softball team’s third-place national tourney finish. Ferris, which made its fourth national tournament appearance this spring, surpassed its previous high of fourth place at the 1992 NCAA-II Championships (May 4-6) in Fayetteville, N.C., when the Bulldogs carded a 1,015 score for 54 holes.