April 27, 2010

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Sophomore Katie Burnett and freshman Amanda Strang earned selections to the All-SEC Women’s Golf Team, the Southeastern Conference announced Tuesday. Burnett was named Second Team All-SEC and Strang was selected to the All-Freshman team.

Burnett, a native of Brunswick, Ga., has been the top finisher for the Gamecocks in eight of 10 events this season, including a tie for third place at the season-opening NGCA Match Play Championship. Ranked 58th in the country in the latest GolfWeek/Sagarin Ratings, she has earned seven top-20 finishes in nine full-field tournaments this season, including a 15th-place showing at the SEC Championship. Her scoring average of 74.29 ranks 15th in the SEC and is on pace to be one of the top-10 single seasons in team history.

Strang has played in every tournament throughout her freshman season in the Garnet and Black. A native of Jonstorp, Sweden, Strang has a scoring average of 75.81 through 28 competitive rounds, which currently ranks her third among freshmen in South Carolina history. Her best finish was a tie for third place in the season-opening NGCA Match Play Championship, and she has posted solid showings throughout the season with three rounds at par or better.

Alabama took three of the four top awards with Mic Potter named Coach of the Year, Brooke Pancake named Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and Jennifer Kirby taking Freshman of the Year honors. SEC Champion Marina Alex of Vanderbilt was named the league’s Player of the Year. The Crimson Tide, who captured their first SEC team title two weeks ago, led the way with three representatives between the first and second teams, followed by Tennessee, Auburn and Georgia with two apiece. Ten of the league’s 12 teams had at least one representative on the all-league roster.

2010 SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE WOMEN’S GOLF AWARDS

Player of the Year: Marina Alex, Vanderbilt
Coach of the Year: Mic Potter, Alabama
Freshman of the Year: Jennifer Kirby, Alabama
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Brooke Pancake, Alabama

FIRST TEAM ALL-SEC
Cydney Clanton, Jr., Auburn
Marina Alex, So., Vanderbilt
Marta Silva Zamora, So., Georgia
Kelli Shean, Jr., Arkansas
Nathalie Mansson, So., Tennessee
Camilla Lennarth, Jr., Alabama
Jennifer Kirby, Fr., Alabama
Megan McChrystal, Jr., LSU

SECOND TEAM ALL-SEC
Emilie Burger, Fr., Georgia
Tessa Teachman, So., LSU
Candace Schepperle, Sr., Auburn
Brooke Pancake, So., Alabama
Katie Burnett, So., South Carolina
Isabelle Lendl, Fr., Florida
Diana Cantu, Sr., Tennessee
Sara Grantham, Sr., Ole Miss

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Jennifer Kirby, Alabama
Emilie Burger, Georgia
Lauren Stratton, Vanderbilt
Isabelle Lendl, Florida
Carlie Yadloczky, Auburn
Erica Popson, Tennessee
Amanda Strang, South Carolina
Anna Leigh Keith, Vanderbilt