July 7, 2015

WGCA Release

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — Three University of South Carolina women’s golfers have been tabbed 2014-15 Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholars, as announced by the organization on Monday.

Senior standout Justine Dreher, sophomore Jia Xin Yang and freshman Ainhoa Olarra all found a spot on the All-American Scholar Team, which recognizes student-athletes who maintained a 3.50 GPA and competed in at least 50 percent of their team’s tournaments.

A total of 758 women’s golfers received the accolade, including 26 from the Southeastern Conference. South Carolina’s three honorees ranked second in the league behind Vanderbilt (4), while Mississippi State, Alabama and Tennessee also boasted three selections.

Dreher, the 2014-15 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, turned in a historic final season at South Carolina this past spring. Her 72.53 scoring average set a new program record, and the sport management major received First-Team All-America honors from the WGCA and Golfweek.

Yang competed in 10 tournaments for the Gamecocks during the 2014-15 season. She sported a scoring average of 75.07 and tallied a 21^st-place finish in her first SEC Championship appearance this past spring. Yang is currently majoring in business.

Olarra, a sociology major, played in five tournaments as a freshman after appearing in the Gamecock lineup for the first time at the Florida State Match-Up back in February. Her best finish (T-30) came at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate (March 6-8), where she totaled a final score of 12-over.

Dreher, Yang and Olarra all made the SEC Spring Academic Roll in 2014-15 along with three other members of the South Carolina women’s golf program. The Gamecocks led all league members with 112 selections.