April 18, 2006

GREENVILLE, N.C. (SMU) - The SMU women's golf team finished in second place at the 2006 Conference USA Women's Golf Championship, marking the Mustangs' best conference championship finish since 1992. Individually, SMU's Jennifer Ackerson took runner-up honors, also SMU's best finish in 14 years.

SMU shot a final-round 301 to finish at 897 for the 54-hole event at the par-72, 6,221-yard Ironwood Golf & Country Club, but came up 10 shots short of edging host and second-round leader East Carolina (887). The runner-up honors mark the Mustangs' best finish in a conference tournament since they won the 1992 Southwest Conference title.

Individually, SMU's Jennifer Ackerson carded a final-round 74 to finish at 1-over 217 and take second. ECU's Lene Krog shot 2-under 70 over the final 18 to pass Ackerson and take first by one shot at even-par 216. Ackerson's showing earned her All-Tournament Team accolades and was the best finish for a Mustang since Barbara Blackwell won the 1992 Southwest Conference title.

Lacey Jones also finished in the top 10, shooting 6-over 222 to take seventh. Kate Ackerson was SMU's low scorer of the day, shooting a 1-over 73 to finish at 10-over 226 and tie for 12th. Kristina Rothengatter and Laura Cross rounded out the SMU team at 18-over 234, tying for 26th.

SMU also claimed its fair share of C-USA hardware at the awards presentation. Head Coach Todd Selders was named the Conference USA Coach of the Year, marking the second time in his six seasons at the SMU helm that he earned such honors. Selders was also tabbed the 2004 Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

Five SMU golfers were named All-Conference, led by first-team selections Cross and Jones. Jennifer Ackerson and Rothengatter were second-teamers, while Kate Ackerson was a third-team pick.

"The team did well considering we have been on the road for the last four weeks," said Selders. "I knew that we could hang in there, though, and a runner-up finish is the first for this program since I've been here. We also had every player earn some type of honor which is well deserved. We now need to focus on our academics and get ready for College Station. I am really proud of this group."

For complete standings, click here .

Up next for SMU are the NCAA Regionals, May 11-13, in College Station, Texas.

Conference USA ChampionshipsGreenville, N.C.Final Team Standings1.  East Carolina - 297-294-296=8872.  SMU - 298-298-301=8973t. Tulsa - 295-300-307=9023t. UCF - 303-294-305=9025.  UTEP - 292-305-310=9076.  Memphis - 310-304-305=9197.  Southern Miss - 321-316-311=9488t. Marshall - 312-325-321=9588t. UAB - 310-327-321=958
Top 20 Individuals1.  Lene Krog, East Carolina - 74-72-70=2162.  Jennifer Ackerson, SMU - 75-68-74=2173.  Stacey Tate, Memphis - 74-72-73=2194t. Jullianne Kim, UTEP - 73-76-71=2204t. Cas Bridge, Tulsa - 72-72-76=2206.  Michaela Cavener, Tulsa - 71-75-75=2217t. Ashley Grier, UCF - 76-70-76=2227t. Lacey Jones, SMU - 73-75-74=2229t. Heidi Helliesen, East Carolina - 74-75-74=2239t. Gerina Mendoza, UTEP - 69-74-80=22311. Emelie Lind, East Carolina - 75-71-79=22512t. Christina Wentworth, UAB - 71-76-79=22612t. Kate Ackerson, SMU - 75-78-73=22614. Kristy McLaughlin, UCF - 75-74-78=22715. Amy Young, UTEP - 72-78-79=22916t. Leisl Hasbrouck, Tulsa - 78-76-76=23016t. Holly Boot, UCF - 74-77-79=23016t. Jessica Trein, UCF - 78-73-79=23016t. Jamie Quinn, East Carolina - 74-76-80=23020t. Polly Travica, Tulsa - 74-77-80=23120t. Jennifer Bodemann, Southern Miss - 78-75-78=23120t. Annabel Silk, UCF - 78-81-72=23120t. Jessica Hauser, East Carolina - 76-82-73=231
All-Tournament TeamLene Krog, East Carolina (medalist)Jennifer Ackerson, SMUStacey Tate, MemphisJullianne Kim, UTEPCas Bridge, Tulsa
All-Conference USA First TeamLene Krog, East CarolinaStacey Tate, MemphisLaura Cross, SMULacey Jones, SMUMichaela Cavener, Tulsa
All-Conference USA Second TeamJennifer Ackerson, SMUKristina Rothengatter, SMULeisl Hasbrouck, TulsaJullianne Kim, UTEPGerina Mendoza, UTEP
All-Conference USA Third TeamHeidi Helliesen, East CarolinaKate Ackerson, SMUHolly Boot, UCFAshley Grier, UCFKristy McLaughlin, UCF
Conference USA Freshman of the Year: Lene Krog, East Carolina
Conference USA Golfer of the Year: Stacey Tate, Memphis
Conference USA Coach of the Year: Todd Selders, SMU