April 20, 2007

FRISCO - Lamar University's Therese Nilsson was named Southland Conference Player of the Year in women's golf and was joined by Hillary Zeigler and Linda Persson as All-SLC honorees, announced the league office Friday.

Nilsson led the conference with seven top 10 finishes, including winning medalist honors at the McNeese State Invitational and posting two other second place finishes. She tied for first at the SLC championship, but lost in a playoff to fellow All-SLC first-team member Stefanie Page of Sam Houston State, who was named SLC Newcomer of the Year.

A native of Vellinge, Sweden, Nilsson is the first Lady Cardinal golfer to earn SLC player of the year honors since the award's inception in 2002. She posted a 75.57 season scoring average over 30 rounds. She was also a first-team All-SLC selection last season and was named freshman of the year.

Joining Nilsson and Page on the All-SLC first team was Christina Lecuyer of Central Arkansas, Mary Betancourt of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Tinna Johannsdottir of McNeese State.

Zeigler and Persson were named to the All-SLC second team. Zeigler, a junior from Livingston, finished the season with six top 10 finishes, including wins at the Chris Banister Classic and the Sam Houston State Ellingson Invitational. She posted a 76.23 season scoring average over 30 rounds. This is the third straight year that Zeigler has earned All-SLC honors.

Persson, a freshman from Hollviken, Sweden, was also named SLC Freshman of the Year. After joining the Lady Cardinals at the semester break in January, she won medalist honors at the CenturyTel Bobcat Classic. She posted a 76.75 spring scoring average over 16 rounds. Persson is the third straight Lamar golfer to be named SLC freshman of the year, joining Zeigler (2005) and Nilsson (2006).

Also earning second-team All-SLC honors were Nicole Forshner (UCA), Sara Ekermann (McN) and Jennifer Heinz (SHSU).

Bonnie Howard, a junior from Carrollton, was named honorable mention All-SLC. She posted three top 10 finishes this season, including tying for ninth place at the SLC championships. She posted a 79.13 season scoring average over 30 rounds.

Mike Dirks, who led Sam Houston State to its second SLC women's golf title, was named SLC Coach of the Year.

2007 All-Southland Conference Women's Golf Teams
First Team
Therese Nilsson, So., Lamar University
Stephanie Page, So., Sam Houston State
Christina Lecuyer, Sr., Central Arkansas
Mary Betancourt, So., Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Tinna Johannsdottir, Fr., McNeese State

Second Team
Hillary Zeigler, Jr., Lamar University
Nicole Forshner, So., Central Arkansas
Linda Persson, Fr., Lamar University
Sara Ekermann, Fr., McNeese State
Jennifer Heinz, Jr., Sam Houston State

Honorable Mention: Bonnie Howard, LU; Landa Steward, SHSU; Annesa Thompson, TXST; Wendy Joyner, SHSU; Laura Baker, UTSA; Christina Brijalba, TXST.

Player of the Year: Therese Nilsson, Lamar University
Freshman of the Year: Linda Persson, Lamar University
Newcomer of the Year: Stephanie Page, Sam Houston State
Coach of the Year: Mike Dirks, Sam Houston State