The South Atlantic Conference Announces Women's Golf Yearly Honors

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Lenoir-Rhyne's Abbey Hartsell was voted the 2017 South Atlantic Conference Women's Golfer of the Year, while Kate Hill from Anderson was named the Conference's Freshman of the Year.  In addition, Wingate mentor Erin Thorne was tabbed the Coach of the Year, the League announced today.

Hartsell, a sophomore from Taylorsville, N.C., posted the League's lowest adjusted scoring average as she averaged 75.70 strokes per round this season.  She played in 19 events for the Bears and tied for the South Atlantic Conference's lowest round this season with a 68 at the Patsy Rendleman Invitational on Oct. 10 to win the event with a three-under par 141.  She also won the Tusculum Fall Classic as she fired an even par 144. In addition to her two wins, Hartsell has placed in the top 10 in five other events, including four top five finishes.  The 2016 South Atlantic Conference Freshman of the Year, Hartsell finished as the runner-up at the 2016 South Atlantic Conference Women's Golf Championship.  The award marks Lenoir-Rhyne's first Player of the Year plaudit since 2002.

Hill topped all the South Atlantic Conference freshmen this season as she finished the 2017 campaign with an adjusted scoring average of 76.74.  She posted six top ten finishes on the season and placed in the top five in four events.  Hill carded a three-over 145 to place third at the Illinois-Springfield Island Getaway and got her spring season off to a good start with a third-place showing at the Barton Invitational with a plus-seven 151.  Her lowest round of the year came in the first round of the Illinois-Springfield getaway as she shot a 72.  Her honor marks Anderson's first Freshman of the Year honor since the 2011 season as she also became the first Anderson golfer to earn First-Team All-Conference since the Trojans joined the League.

Thorne earns her first-ever South Atlantic Conference Women's Golf Coach of the Year honor as the Bulldogs finished in the top 10 in every event they played in this year.  Wingate's best finish of the year came at the Wingate Intercollege with a first-place finish.  The Bulldogs also finished in the top five in five events this season.  Wingate's opening-round 292 at the Pfeiffer Invitational in early March set a program record and was only one shot off the South Atlantic Conference record, set by Tusculum in 2012.

Elizabeth England from Carson-Newman, Ciara Rattana of Tusculum and Natalie Pleyerova of Queens joined d Hartsell and Hill on the First-Team All-South Atlantic Conference.  England posted an adjusted scoring average of 75.97 on the year, while Rattana posted an adjusted scoring average of 76.66.  Pleyerova rounded out the First-Team as she recorded an adjusted scoring average of 76.98 on the year.

The 2017 South Atlantic Conference Women's Golf Championship is slated for Sunday, April 9 through Tuesday, April 11.  Tee times will begin at 8:30am on all three days and will be contested at the Link Hills Country Club in Greeneville, Tenn.

1st Team              
Abbey Hartsell, Lenoir-Rhyne
Elizabeth England, Carson-Newman
Ciara Rattana, Tusculum
Kate Hill, Anderson
Natalie Pleyerova, Queens

2nd Team
Katie Tomassoni, Tusculum
Diana McDonald, Wingate
Cristina Casanella, Wingate
Angela Luna, Coker
Tiffany Elam, Anderson

Honorable Mention          
Reagan Greene, Lincoln Memorial
Mikaela Hadaway, Wingate
Taylor Hayes, Carson-Newman
Katie Kasper, Wingate
Laura Nunez, Wingate