Three Zips Named NGCA Women’s Golf All-American Scholars

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CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – The National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) named three University of Akron women's golfers, Amanda Butler, Sara Chaves and Laura Murray, to the 2011-12 Division I All-American Scholar team as announced on Friday.

The honor is the fourth-consecutive honor for Butler, the first four-time recipient in program history. Chaves and Murray are appearing on the list for the first time in their collegiate careers.

"I'm proud of these players for their latest accomplishments," Akron women's golf head coach Jenny King said. "To be named as an All-American Scholar by the NGCA while competing year round shows that these players have high expectations for themselves and their academic success."

In all, 585 student-athletes across Division I, II and III schools, were honored for their work in the classroom and on the course. The criteria for selection to the All-American Scholar Team are some of the most stringent in all of college athletics. The minimum cumulative GPA is 3.5.

Butler (3.78 GPA, Sports Management) appeared in 10 of 11 events, posting a 79.73 average and recording a career-high six top-25 finishes. She tied for the top individual round for the Zips last season with a round of 1-over 72 at the Rio Verde Invitational (March 10) and tied for the second-lowest two-round score of 152 (+8) at the Wild Eggs Cardinal Cup (Sept. 12-13).

"Amanda has been named to this team for four consecutive years," King said. "Not only has she been a great leader on and off the course, but she has set the bar high for our future players."

Chaves (3.60 GPA, Business) appeared in eight of 11 events in 2011-12, recording two top-25 finishes and posting an 81.67 scoring average. Her three-round tally of 229 (+13) was the sixth-best three-round score of the season and helped the Zips win the EKU Colonel Classic (April 6-7), UA's second victory of the season.

Murray (3.78 GPA, Exercise Science) appeared in nine events in her freshman campaign, finishing fourth on the squad with a 79.38 stroke average. She posted three top-25 finishes, including a season-best finish of tied for sixth at the Fourth Annual Zippy Invitational (Oct. 17-18).

In addition to the required 3.5 minimum GPA, student-athletes must meet a number of requirements, including being of high moral character and in good standing at the college making the nomination, and the student-athlete must have played in 50 percent of the team's regularly scheduled competitive rounds during the year nominated.

The NGCA, founded in 1983, is a non-profit organization representing women's collegiate golf coaches. Today, the NGCA represents nearly 500 coaches throughout the U.S. and is dedicated to educating, promoting and recognizing both its members and the student-athletes they represent.