April 19, 2008
Hot Springs, Ark. - The Gulf South Conference announced its first ever, selection-based Women's Golf All-Conference Team on Friday, and West Florida dominated the selections. Freshman Bhavna Shetty and Head Coach Robin Dezarn headlined the All GSC honors, as the Argos are about to defend their GSC Championship and go for their third straight title, beginning Sunday in Hot Spring, Arkansas.
Four teams accounted for all but one of the First and Second Team accolades. Henderson State, Montevallo, West Florida and West Georgia each collected two honorees, while Arkansas Tech added one First Teamer. UWF led the way as the only school with a pair of First Team standouts. West Georgia added two on the Second Team, while HSU and UM each posted one on the First and Second Teams, respectively.
The Argos captured the major awards as Henderson State's Jenna Chadwick and West Florida's Bhavna Shetty were named Co-GSC Players of the Year. Shetty also took home the GSC Freshman of the Year honor, marking the second straight season in which an Argonaut took home Player and Freshman accolade.
Head Coach Robin Dezarn has been impressed with Shetty's play, "she has done a great job this year. She has been consistent, and has got a great future ahead of her." Shetty finished 13th overall this year at the NSU Classic in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and was 24th in the Gainesville Shootout, against several top Division I opponents. She also turned in one of the best rounds of the year for an Argonaut, when she shot even par in the final round in Lakeland, Florida this spring, which was the third best round of the entire three day, 16 team tournament.
Rounding out the individual honors was West Florida's Robin Dezarn, who notched her third consecutive GSC Coach of the Year laurel. "I am honored to receive this award," stated Dezarn. "It has been a difficult year and I am proud of my young team, especially Bhavna (Shetty) and Natalia (Espinosa), who have earned their honors."
Henderson State's Chadwick is the lone player to return from last year's All-GSC First Team, while UWF's Natalia Espinosa makes the jump from last year's Second Team. Arkansas Tech's Ana Morales joins Shetty as the two freshman on the First Team, while Montevallo's Morgan Bell rounds out the First Team. Espinosa turned in some impressive results this season, including a top 30 finish in the Gainesville Shootout, a tournament with 15 teams competing, including several Division I teams. Her best finish was a tie for third place at the Lady Eagle Invitational in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, just two weeks ago.
The Argos are one of nine women's teams that will journey to the Hot Springs Country Club in Hot Springs, Arkansas for the 2008 Gulf South Conference Golf Championships, April 20-22. The women will tee the ball up, with the First Round (18 holes) of their two-day, 36-hole Championship on the morning of Sunday, April 20, followed by the final 18 holes on Monday morning. For complete coverage of the GSC Golf Championships, please visit www.goargos.com, and find the 2008 GSC tournament link along the right column of the Women's Golf page to follow the tournament results.
West Florida enters the 2008 GSC Championship as the favorite after claiming the past two Titles. UWF is ranked No. 11 in the NGCA Top 25, No. 12 in the Golfstat Head-to-Head Standings and No. 6 in the NCAA South Regional. Leading the pack of teams seeking to dethrone the Argonauts is Montevallo which is ranked No. 10 in the South Region and No. 26 in Golfstat. Henderson State should also challenge the three-peat, receiving two votes in the NGCA Top 25 and claiming a No. 34 ranking in Golfstat. Not to be overlooked are Arkansas Tech (No. 49 in Golfstat) and West Georgia (No. 65 in Golfstat). Seeking to surprise are Arkansas-Monticello, Christian Brothers, Harding and Southern Arkansas.
