MCKINNON AND AITTAMA EARN TOP GLIAC WOMEN'S GOLF HONORS

*2003-04 GLIAC All-Conference Release* PDF

Sophomore Casey McKinnon (St. Ignace/LaSalle) and freshman Heidi Aittama (Livonia/Churchill) of the Ferris State University women's golf team highlight the list of the 2004 All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Women's Golf Postseason Award winners as the pair both garnered first-team recognition as announced by the conference office Wednesday (May 12).

Casey McKinnon earned both All-GLIAC First-Team and GLIAC Freshman of the Year honors this season, becoming just the second Bulldog to do so.

Senior Ellie Saladin (Greenville) and sophomore Elena Robles (Torrance, Calif./Redondo Union) attained second-team recognition.

Grand Valley State's Melissa Sneller was chosen as the Player of the Year while her head coach Lori Stinson took home Coach of the Year accolades.

McKinnon, who redshirted last season, was also selected the conference's Freshman of the Year. Her 82.29 stroke average (1,975 strokes) in 24 rounds this season is presently the second best on the team. McKinnon has recorded six top-20 finishes to date, including three top-five tournament placings. She achieved top individual medalist honors at the Findlay (Ohio) William "Bing" Beall Classic (Sept. 28-29) by winning a one-hole playoff after carding a 154 score (80-74--154). McKinnon placed second at the GLIAC Championships (April 17-18) in Big Rapids, Mich., by firing a 158 (77-81--158) and then captured third-place honors the following week (April 24-25) at the Ashland (Ohio) Invitational. She tied for 11th place with a three-round 247-stroke total (90-77-80--247) at the NCAA Division II East Regional (May 4-5) in Big Rapids. McKinnon's selection represents the second consecutive season in which a Ferris State golfer has earned the honor as Elena Robles was the Bulldogs' first GLIAC Freshman of the Year selection a season ago.

Aittama's 82.95 average ranks third among the squad's leaders as she has totaled 1,742 strokes in 21 rounds. She has currently accumulated three top-10 placings and secured medalist honors at the Ashland Invitational as a result of carding a 148 score (74-74--148). Aittama turned in a sixth-place tying 243 total (80-82-81--243) at the NCAA-II East Regional.

Heidi Aittama was among two first-year FSU golfers to garner All-GLIAC First-Team laurels.

Saladin, who transferred from Grand Valley State this last fall, has an 84.50 average (2,028 strokes) in 24 rounds. She's placed in the top 20 five times, including four top 10 performances. Saladin's best finish was third place at the Findlay (Ohio) William "Bing" Beall Classic (Sept. 28-29) with a 158 score (80-78--158). She shot a 166 (81-85--166) to place eighth at the GLIAC Championships and tied for sixth place following a 243-stroke total (78-80-85--243) at the NCAA-II East Regional.

A first-team all-conference pick last season, Robles has a team-leading 81.00 stroke average in 22 rounds this campaign. The 2004 All-NCAA-II East Region honoree garnered a personal season-high second-place tying effort with a 155 score (76-79--155) at the Western Michigan Bronco Invitational (April 11-12). Robles, who placed among the top 20 six times in FSU's 11 tournaments this season, shot a 165 (88-77-165) at the GLIAC Championships to tie for sixth place and was the Bulldogs' top finisher at the NCAA-II East Regional as a result of shooting a third-place 233 score (80-74-79--233).

Ferris State is presently among eight teams competing in the 2004 NCAA-II Women's Golf Championships (May 12-15) at The Legacy Club at Alaqua Lakes in Longwood, Fla. The Bulldogs are making their fourth NCAA Championship appearance in the program's history this spring and the first since 2000-01 when FSU placed fifth at the 2001 national tourney (May 16-19) in Rock Hill, S.C.