SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman women’s golf player Reona Hirai has been named the General Shale Southern Conference Student-Athlete of the Week for competition held April 11-17, the league office announced Wednesday.

Sitting in second place after day one, Hirai posted a 2-over-par 74 to take a two-stroke lead into Tuesday’s championship round. Battling tough winds, the Summerville, South Carolina, native followed Monday’s up with a round-three 73 to win the individual title by four strokes. The senior had back-to-back bogeys on holes No. 9 and No. 10, but gained a stroke back when she birdied hole No. 13. Hirai shot even-par the rest of the way, edging out teammate and 2017 champion Natalie Srinivasan for first place. As a team, Furman paced the field, winning the tournament by 34 strokes. 

Majoring in Japanese, Hirai holds a 3.63 grade point average.  

With the win, the Paladins earn an automatic bid to the NCAA regionals which will be held May 7-9.

Also nominated for SoCon Student-Athlete of the Week: David Gonzalez (ETSU men’s tennis), Katie Sidor (Mercer women’s tennis), Andrew Moritz (UNCG baseball), Haley Morris (Chattanooga women’s track and field), Brandon Barbery (VMI baseball) and Ashlyn Long (Western Carolina softball). 

General Shale SoCon Student-Athletes of the Week
Sept. 6 Lauren Greenspoon, Chattanooga, Volleyball
Sept. 13 Paige Alsten, Mercer, Volleyball|
Sept. 20 John Payne, Chattanooga, Men’s Cross Country
Sept. 27 Austin Herink, ETSU, Football
Oct. 4 Andy Schumpert, Furman, Football
Oct. 11 Eleonora Goldoni, ETSU, Women’s Soccer
Oct. 18 Megan McCallister, Western Carolina, Women’s Soccer
Oct. 25 Tee Mitchell, Mercer, Football
Nov. 1 Allie Buchalski, Furman, Women’s Cross Country           
Nov. 8 Cienna Rideout, UNCG, Women’s Soccer           
Nov. 15 Catie Cronister, Wofford, Volleyball
Nov. 22 Allie Buchalski, Furman, Women’s Cross Country
Nov. 29 Andy Schumpert, Furman, Football
Dec. 6 Amanda Thompson, Mercer, Women’s Basketball
Dec. 13 Sherae Bonner, Western Carolina, Women’s Basketball           
Jan. 3 Sydni Means, Mercer, Women’s Basketball           
Jan. 10 Desmond Ringer, Mercer, Men’s Basketball         
Jan. 17 Bethany King, VMI, Women’s Track and Field
Jan. 24 Savannah Carnahan, Furman, Women’s Track and Field
Jan. 31 Nadine Soliman, UNCG, Women’s Basketball
Feb. 7 Willem van Zyl, The Citadel, Men’s Tennis
Feb. 14 Jacquelyn Crow, Furman, Women’s Track and Field
Feb. 21 Brandon Barbery, VMI, Baseball
Feb. 28 Savannah Carnahan, Furman Women’s Track and Field
March 7 Megan Woods, Chattanooga, Women’s Golf
March 14 Sawyer Gipson-Long, Mercer, Baseball 
March 21 Jordan Gontram, UNCG, Softball
March 28 Stella Preston, Mercer, Softball
April 4 David Gonzalez, ETSU, Men’s Tennis
Apil 11 Geuntae Kim, ETSU, Men’s Golf
April 18 Reona Hirai, Furman, Women’s Golf