Thursday, May 04, 2006

            JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (May 4, 2006) - The Atlantic Sun Conference announced its 2005-06 postseason women's golf awards on Thursday, and a trio of ETSU players were among the honorees. Senior Ashley Barton (Seffner, Fla.) was a first-team selection, sophomore Natalia Giraldo (Cali, Colombia) was a second-team pick, and freshman Lucy Gould (Bargoed, Wales) was named to the all-freshman team.

Barton finished the season with a team-best stroke average of 76.22, finishing second in two of her last three events. She ends her career at ETSU as the most decorated player in the program's history, holding more than seven individual season and career marks, while also garnering back-to-back first-team all-conference selections. She finished second at the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships to wrap up her career.

Meanwhile, Giraldo was second on the team in stroke average, finishing in the Top 15 in three events during the year - including a fifth-place showing at the A-Sun Championships. Gould finished third on the team in stroke average, and ended the season with a 10^th-place showing at the conference tournament.

Campbell's Alejandra Shaw capped her steady three year climb in the Atlantic Sun Conference with A-Sun Player of the Year honors, while Campbell's John Crooks received the Coach of the Year nod from his peers after leading the Camels to their record seventh conference title in the last 11 years. Florida Atlantic's Praewnapa Phol-Uayporn rode a strong finish at the conference championship at DeBary Golf & Country Club to Freshman of the Year accolades.