Cullowhee, N.C. ? The Western Carolina women’s golf team, which posted arguably its best year of competition in the program’s history in 2005-06, was recognized today for its excellence in the classroom. Collectively, WCU’s women’s golfers had a grade point average (GPA) of 3.643 to rank fifth-best in the nation as compiled by the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA). Western was the only Southern Conference school represented in the Top 25 released by the NGCA.

 

The women’s golf team edged the women’s soccer (3.598) and women’s tennis (3.476) teams, respectively, for the overall best team GPA at Western Carolina for the 2005-06 academic year.

 

To determine the rankings, the GPA of each member of a school’s team is averaged together then the result is ranked against other programs. The Univ. of South Carolina received the 2005-06 NGCA All-Scholar Team GPA Award for the highest collective average as a team, garnering the award for the second-straight season with an overall GPA of 3.677.

 

Four of Western’s six women’s golfers from last season were additionally named NGCA Scholar All-Americans, as released back on July 18. Graduated seniors Brandy Andersen and Erika Danford, rising senior Bianca Melone, and rising junior, Malin Fryk, were all honored with Andersen tallying her fourth-consecutive nod to the honorary squad and Melone capturing her third.

 

 

  1.  Univ. of South Carolina            3.677

  2.  Bradley Univ.                      3.658

  3.  St. Olaf College                   3.650

      Univ. of South Alabama             3.650

  5.  Western Carolina Univ.             3.643

  6.  Illinois Wesleyan Univ.            3.622

  7.  Wartburg College                   3.602

  8.  Nova Southeastern Univ.            3.600

  9.  Univ. of Tennessee                 3.592

 10.  Univ. of Indianapolis              3.591

 11.  Mississippi State Univ.            3.581

 12.  Xavier Univ.                       3.580

 13.  Southwest Minnesota State Univ.    3.572

 14.  Barry Univ.                        3.571

 15.  High Point Univ.                   3.568

 16.  Univ. of Montana                   3.567

 17.  South Dakota State Univ.           3.564

 18.  Texas Christian Univ.              3.561

 19.  Longwood Univ.                     3.559

      Winona State Univ.                 3.559

 21.  Carleton College                   3.554

 22.  Ball State Univ.                   3.549

 23.  East Tennessee State Univ.         3.543

 24.  Stanford Univ.                     3.541

      Univ. of Texas - Pan American      3.541