The South Atlantic Conference Announces Women's Golf Yearly Honors

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Newberry's Marianna Monaco was voted the 2015 South Atlantic Conference Women's Golfer of the Year, while Ciara Rattana from Tusculum was named the Conference's Freshman of the Year.  In addition, Newberry mentor Clarissa Childs was tabbed the Coach of the Year, the League announced today.

Monaco, a sophomore from Yonkers, N.Y., turned in the League's lowest adjusted stroke average on the year as she finished the season with a 76.80 average.  She has finished in the top 10 in five of eight tournaments this year, including top five finishes in each of her starts in the fall.  Her stroke average is currently tied for sixth-place in the South Atlantic Conference single-season record book.  Monaco's lowest round of the year came at the Smokey Mountain Intercollegiate as she turned in a 2-under par 70, a score that is tied for the ninth-lowest all-time in South Atlantic Conference history.  Her career-best tournament came this year at the Myrtle Beach Intercollegiate as she posted scores of 75 and 73 to finish with a score of 148.

Rattana, from Western Springs, Ill, turned in the Pioneers' lowest adjusted stroke average this season with a 78.32.  She recorded a runner-up finish at the Pioneer Classic, to go along with three top 10 finishes and six top 20 performances in nine events this season.  Rattana's stroke average is the fourth-lowest average in school history and is the second lowest by a freshman in Tusculum history as she notched 9-of-16 rounds in the 70's on the year.  Her lowest round of the year was a 74 that she posted at the Tusculum Fall Classic and the Kiawah Island Intercollegiate.

Childs' honor marks her second Coach of the Year award of her career.  Her squad won the Etowah Intercollegiate and finished as the runner-up at the Wingate Intercollegiate Challenge.  The Wolves posted five top five finishes this season and posted seven events in the top 10.

Madison Kennedy from Catawba, Taylor Demby of Coker and Elizabeth England of Carson-Newman joined Monaco and Rattan on the First-Team All-South Atlantic Conference.  Kennedy posted an adjusted scoring average of 77.91 on the year, while Demby posted an adjusted scoring average of 78.57.  England rounded out the First-Team as she recorded an adjusted scoring average of 78.58 on the year.

The 2015 South Atlantic Conference Women's Golf Championship is slated for Sunday, April 12 through Monday, April 14.  Tee times will begin at 8:30am on all three days and will be contested at the Sevierville Golf Club in Sevierville, Tenn.

First Team
Marianna Monaco, Newberry
Madison Kennedy, Catawba
Ciara Rattana, Tusculum
Taylor Demby, Coker
Elizabeth England, Carson-Newman