CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – Baylor women’s golf had a school-record five student-athletes named 2015-16 WGCA All-American Scholars. Baylor’s five selections tied for fifth-most nationally and tied for the most of any power-five conference program, equaling Penn State, Ohio State and Minnesota.
The Bears were represented by seniors Laura Lonardi and Natalia Perez, junior Maggie Beth Byers and sophomores Giovana Maymon and Lauren Whyte. Lonardi was honored for the third consecutive season, while Perez picked up her third honor in the last four years and Maymon was chosen for a second straight season.
Baylor tied the school-record with three All-American Scholars last year, as Dylan Kim was recognized along with Lonardi and Maymon. Kim did not meet the 50% participation requirement this year, as she took a medical redshirt following surgery to remove a benign tumor in October.
A total of 828 women’s collegiate golfers were recognized across all divisions. The criteria to be selected are some of the most stringent in college athletics, with a 50% participation requirement along with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50.
Baylor accounted for five of the 18 Big 12 Conference players honored. The Bears’ five selections led the league, followed by TCU and Texas Tech with three apiece, Kansas State and Oklahoma State with two honorees each and Iowa State, Kansas and Texas with one selection each.
Yale led the nation with eight honorees, followed by Arkansas State, Southern Illinois and Findley with six selections. Baylor’s five honorees tied for fifth-most nationally with Bowling Green State, College of Charleston, Embry Riddle, Illinois State, Lindenwood, Lynn, Morehead State, Northern Kentucky, Penn State, Rockhurst, SIU-Edwardsville, Ohio State, Tulsa, Indianapolis, Memphis, Minnesota, Nebraska-Omaha and Youngstown State.
In other news, former Baylor golfer Hannah Burke is playing in the 71st U.S. Women’s Open Championship this week. The tournament runs Thursday through Sunday at CordeValle in San Martin, Calif. Thursday’s and Friday’s rounds will air on FS1 from 2-7 p.m. CT, while Saturday and Sunday action will air on FOX from 2-6 p.m. CT. Burke tees off in Thursday’s first round at 9:22 a.m. CT from the first tee.
Baylor will open its 2016-17 season on Sept. 12 at the Dick McGuire Invitational. Follow @BaylorWGolf on Twitter for updates throughout the season.
BAYLOR’S WGCA ALL-AMERICAN SCHOLARS
2000-01 Melanie Hagewood
2000-01 Hanna-Sofia Svenningsson
2001-02 Tara Bateman
2001-02 Melanie Hagewood
2001-02 Hanna-Sofia Svenningsson
2002-03 Melanie Hagewood
2002-03 Hanna-Sofia Svenningsson
2003-04 Meredith Jones
2003-04 Anna Rehnholm
2004-05 Meredith Jones
2004-05 Allison Martin
2004-05 Anna Rehnholm
2005-06 Meredith Jones
2005-06 Allison Martin
2005-06 Anna Rehnholm
2006-07 Allison Martin
2006-07 Anna Rehnholm
2007-08 Morgan Chambers
2007-08 Kristen Hendrix
2008-09 Morgan Chambers
2009-10 Morgan Chambers
2010-11 Morgan Chambers
2010-11 Kaylin Terry
2011-12 Stani Schiavone
2011-12 Valerie Sternebeck
2012-13 Natalia Perez
2013-14 Maggie Beth Byers
2013-14 Laura Lonardi
2013-14 Natalia Perez
2014-15 Dylan Kim
2014-15 Laura Lonardi
2014-15 Giovana Maymon
2015-16 Maggie Beth Byers
2015-16 Laura Lonardi
2015-16 Giovana Maymon
2015-16 Natalia Perez
2015-16 Lauren Whyte
