Lenoir-Rhyne’s George, Catawba’s Haverty Take Top South Atlantic Conference Golf Honors
April 7, 2006

ROCK HILL, SC – Lenoir-Rhyne College’s Kent George, who had three top-three finishes in his freshman year of competition, swept the South Atlantic Conference Men’s Golf Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors, the league announced today. Catawba College’s Paige Haverty was named Women’s Golf Player of the Year for the fourth year in a row, while Wingate University’s Kacie Braxton was named Women’s Golf Freshman of the Year.

George, a freshman from Granite Falls, N.C., had a 74.13 stroke average. He won the Carolina Sands tournament, while finishing second at the Johnny Palmer Old North State Classic in the fall and came in third at the AccuSport Lenoir-Rhyne Intercollegiate.

Haverty, a senior from Greenville, NC, is closing out her career at Catawba with a dominant senior season. In nine tournaments this season, she had four firsts, four seconds and one fourth. She owns the three lowest single-season scoring averages in league history, including her 75.22 average this season, a conference record. She becomes just the second person in SAC history to win four Player of the Year awards, joining former Tusculum women’s tennis standout Leslie Murray.

Braxton, a freshman from Graham, NC, finished 13th in scoring with an 86.88 scoring average. She finished tied for 10th at the Lady Bulldog Invitational.

Tusculum College coach Bob Dibble was recognized as Men’s Golf Coach of the Year. He wins the award for the second time in his career. He guided the Pioneers to five top-five tournament finishes, including a first place at the Tusculum Invitational.

Catawba College coach Sam Gealy was named SAC Women’s Golf Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. He guided the Lady Indians to three tournament titles this season.

Carson-Newman College’s Tyler Lane was presented the South Atlantic Conference Men’s Golf Scholar Athlete Award.

Lane, a sophomore from Dayton, TN, earned second-team All-Conference honors after averaging 76.29 strokes per round. His best finish was second at the Kiawah Island event, where he shot a season-low 69.

He carries a 3.95 GPA and has been named to the Carson-Newman Dean’s List and the SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

Wingate University’s Martina Moo Young received the South Atlantic Conference’s Women’s Golf Scholar Athlete Award, winning the award for the third year in a row. A senior from Mt. Pleasant, N.C., she has a 3.857 GPA as a marketing major.

Young earned medalist honors at the St. Andrews Spring Invitational and had an 87.0 stroke average this season. She is a two-time All-Conference selection and was a National Golf Coaches Association Academic-Scholar All-American in 2003.

She has been named to the Wingate President’s List four semesters with a 4.0 GPA. In the community, she is chairperson of the Wingate Student-Athlete Advisory Council and helped organize with Make-A-Wish fundraisers, Thanksgiving Food Drive and United Way Day of Caring.

The 2006 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Men’s and Women’s Golf Tournament begins Monday at Lake Hickory Country Club at Catawba Springs in Hickory, N.C., with 36 holes of competition. The final 18 holes will be Tuesday.

2006 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE GOLF AWARD WINNERS

MEN’S GOLF COACH OF THE YEAR – Bob Dibble, Tusculum
MEN’S GOLF PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Kent George, Lenoir-Rhyne
MEN’S GOLF FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Kent George, Lenoir-Rhyne
MEN’S GOLF SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Tyler Lane, Carson-Newman

WOMEN’S GOLF COACH OF THE YEAR – Sam Gealy, Catawba
WOMEN’S GOLF PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Paige Haverty, Catawba
WOMEN’S GOLF FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Kacie Braxton, Wingate
WOMEN’S GOLF SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Martina Moo Young, Wingate

SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE SENIOR AWARDS