May 4, 2012

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina senior Katie Burnett and freshman Justine Dreher have received All-SEC women’s golf honors, the Southeastern Conference announced on Friday.

Burnett was named second team All-SEC, while Dreher was selected to the SEC All-Freshman Team.

For Burnett it is the second All-SEC selection of her career after garnering second team honors in 2010. The Brunswick, Ga., native has been a steadying force for the Gamecocks this season as she was the team’s top finisher in all nine events. She led the team and was 10th in the conference in scoring with a 73.19 stroke average, which ranks first all-time at South Carolina. She lowered her career scoring average to 74.30, moving her to the top of the program’s career scoring list. Burnett, who is ranked 19th in the country by Golfweek, finished inside the top 20 six times, including a team-high three top-5 showings. She also tied the school record for lowest round with a 66 in the second round of the Cougar Classic and led the team in rounds of par or better (10) and 54-hole score (212).

“As usual, Katie has been a rock for us all year,” South Carolina head coach Kalen Harris said. “She has played exceptionally well this spring. Being ranked the 10th best golfer in a conference like the SEC is a big accomplishment, especially if one understands the depth of talent that our conference contains. Second team All-SEC is one of many things that Katie can be proud of.”

Dreher, a native of Valbonne, France, played in six events this season and produced a stroke average of 75.71, which ranks third on the team and is currently fourth all-time for a freshman at South Carolina. She recorded two top-20 finishes, including a tie for 12th showing in extremely challenging conditions at the SEC Championship in Fayetteville, Ark. Her second-round 68 at the Tar Hill Invitational is the lowest round by a freshman in school history.

“I’m very proud of Justine for making the All-SEC Freshman Team,” Harris said. “This is a special accomplishment considering that she struggled a good bit of the fall and early spring. Justine is a very experienced player. She has stepped up and played her best golf when it mattered the most. We are just beginning to see the capabilities of Justine Dreher.”

Alabama led the way with three first team selections. Auburn’s Kim Evans and Alabama’s Mic Potter were named SEC Co-Coaches of the Year. Vanderbilt’s Marina Alex earned SEC Golfer of the Year accolades, while Alabama’s Brooke Pancake (Scholar-Athlete of the Year) and Florida’s Camilla Hedberg (Freshman of the Year) were also honored.

The Gamecocks will be back on the course on May 10-12 in the NCAA East Regional in State College, Pa. South Carolina received the No. 8 seed in the regional and will vie for its 12th trip all-time to the NCAA Championship.

2012 SEC WOMEN’S GOLF AWARDS CO-COACH OF THE YEAR
Mic Potter, Alabama
Kim Evans, Auburn

GOLFER OF THE YEAR
Marina Alex, Vanderbilt

SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Brooke Pancake, Alabama

FRESHMEN OF THE YEAR
Camilla Hedberg, Florida

First Team All-SEC
Patricia Sanz, Auburn
Lauren Stratton, Vanderbilt
Emily Tubert, Arkansas
Jennifer Kirby, Alabama
Brooke Pancake, Alabama
Marina Alex, Vanderbilt
Stephanie Meadow, Alabama
Emile Burger, Georgia
Marta Silva Zamora, Georgia

Second Team All-SEC
Katie Burnett, South Carolina
Camilla Hedberg, Florida
Marta Sanz, Auburn
Tessa Teachman, LSU
Mia Piccio, Florida
Austin Ernst, LSU
Madeline Sagstrom, LSU
Victoria Trapani, Auburn

All-Freshman Team
Camilla Hedberg, Florida
Madeline Sagstrom, LSU
Victoria Trapani, Auburn
Ally McDonald, Mississippi State
Rocio Sanchez Lobato, Georgia
Kendall Martindale, Vanderbilt
A.J. Newell, Tennessee
Justine Dreher, South Carolina