May 27, 2015

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Senior Justine Dreher earned Women’s Golf Coaches Association First-Team All-America honors, the organization announced Tuesday. With the honor, Dreher becomes the third first-team All-American in program history, joining three-time first-team honoree Kristy McPherson (2001, 2002, 2003, NGCA) and Siew Ai Lim (1995, NGCA). Dreher also garnered an honorable mention from the organization last season.

Dreher has been the undisputed leader of the Gamecocks this season and was ranked No. 6 in the GolfStat individual rankings entering the NCAA Championships. With her steady play and low rounds, Dreher led South Carolina with a 72.53 scoring average, the lowest single-season stroke average in school history.

When the spotlight is on, Dreher shines the brightest, posting five of her nine career top-five results in 12 postseason appearances. Dreher finished in the top 12 at all four of her SEC Championships. Two days ago, Dreher turned in her best result at NCAA Championships, tying for 16th (298; +10) at the challenging Concession Golf Club.

The Valbonne, France, native has posted 16 of her 32 rounds this year at par or better, and her consistent play produced six top-five results this season, just one shy of tying the program record. Overall, the senior has nine career top five’s to her name, second most in Gamecock history. Over the last four years, Dreher complied the second lowest career scoring average in program history at 74.12.

The criteria used to determine the WGCA All-America teams include head-to-head competition, comparison with common opponents, scoring average, place finishes in regular-season events and tournament wins as well as strength of schedule.

The 11-member team includes the NCAA individual champion Emma Talley from the Unviersity of Alabama and Leona Maguire from Duke.

The WGCA Second Team and Honorable Mention All-American Teams will be announced following the NCAA Championship later this week.

2014-15 WGCA First-Team All-Americas
Celine Boutier, Duke University
Justine Dreher, University of South Carolina
Dana Finkelstein, UNLV
Lauren Kim, Stanford University
Bronte Law, UCLA
Gaby Lopez, University of Arkansas
Leona Maguire, Duke University
Caroline Nistrup, LSU
Madeline Sagstrom, LSU
Emma Talley, University of Alabama
Monica Vaughn, Arizona State University