July 2, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
The National Golf Coaches Association Wednesday recognized its 2007-08 All-America Scholar Teams, and Illinois State women's golfers Laura Harris, Britt Knutson, Stacey Miller and Terra Miller all received the honor. The criteria for selection are some of the most stringent of all college athletics; the minimum cumulative grade-point average is 3.50 and student-athletes must have competed in at least 50 percent of the school's regularly scheduled competitive rounds during the season.
"This is a very prestigious award, especially considering the challenging criteria," said Illinois State head women's golf coach Darby Sligh. "Our entire team, but these four individuals in particular, really find a tremendous balance between athletics and academics. It demonstrates what it is about, and the commitment it takes, to be a well-rounded student-athlete. What Laura, Britt, Stacey and Terra did in the classroom this past year certainly filtered onto the golf course and was instrumental in our team success."
Harris played 23 rounds in nine total events, recording two top-10 finishes and three top-20 tallies last season. She had a stroke average of 79.3, and tied for ninth at the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championships, helping the Redbirds to the team title and a berth in the NCAA Central Regional. Harris has a 3.90 cumulative GPA in ISU's marketing program, and tallied a perfect 4.0 GPA in the spring semester.
Knutson, who has a 3.90 cumulative GPA in business teacher education, played 22 rounds in nine total events last season. She carded 13 rounds in the 70s, and tallied two top-20 finishes with a stroke average of 79.4.
Stacey Miller was an All-Missouri Valley Conference and a First-Team All-Valley Scholar Athlete selection last season after playing in a team-high 30 rounds. She had two top-10 finishes and six top-20 tallies, including an 11th place finish at the Valley Championships. The Bloomington, Ill., native has a 3.82 GPA in ISU's management curriculum, and recorded a 4.0 GPA last spring.
Terra Miller played 19 rounds in eight events with a stroke average of 80.5 in her freshman season. She shot scores in the 70s in three-consecutive events, including a season-best three-round, 13-over par 229 (76, 76, 77) at the Napa River Grill Cardinal Cup. In the spring season, Miller competed in the Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational, the Gainesville Shootout and the Saluki Invitational. The public relations major finished her first year at Illinois State with a 3.55 GPA.
