GVSU’s Ashley Smith Earns Second-Straight GLIAC Women’s Golf “Athlete of The Year” Award

Photo courtesy of Matt Yeoman

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BAY CITY, Mich. -- Grand Valley State University senior Ashley Smith (Plymouth, Mich./Salem) has been chosen as the GLIAC Women's Golf "Athlete of the Year" for the second-consecutive season as announced by the conference office. Smith claimed medalist honors at the rain-shortened 2010 GLIAC Women's Golf Championships on Sunday (Apr. 25). Fellow Laker Ashley Beard (Williston, N.D.) was named the conference's "Freshman of the Year" while GVSU head coach Rebecca Mailloux was tabbed as the GLIAC "Coach of the Year".

Smith  was named the GLIAC Women’s Golf “Athlete of the Year” after finishing as the tournament medalist at the GLIAC Championship this past weekend. Smith had finished second (2008), third (2009), and seventh (2007) at her first three GLIAC Championships, but prevailed over the weekend as the only player to score under par. Her two-round total of 143 (-1) placed her six shots ahead of the competition, as she fired an opening round 70 (-2) and coupled that with a second round 73 (+1) for her winning tally. Smith led a GVSU contingent that saw three players in the top four scores, four golfers in the top six, and all five Lakers finish in the top-15 of the tournament.

Beard was named the GLIAC “Freshman of the Year” after finishing in a tie for sixth place at the GLIAC Championship over the weekend. The freshman shot a 153 (+9) by totaling rounds of 75 and 78. Beard was the fourth Laker to finish in the top six scores of the tournament.

Mailloux, in her second season at the Laker helm, was named the GLIAC Women’s Golf “Coach of the Year” after leading Grand Valley State to its third consecutive GLIAC Championship. It is the first time Mailloux has been tabbed as the conference’s coach of the year. GVSU won the 2010 tournament over the weekend by 26 strokes, finishing with a score of 594 (+18) after 36 holes of golf on Saturday (April 24). Mailloux had three players finish in the top four individual scores, four golfers in the top six, and all five Lakers place in the top-15 of the tournament.

Joining Smith on the 2010 All-GLIAC First Team are: GVSU teammates senior Caitlin Bennett, junior Allie Tyler, and sophomore Sarah Hoffman; along with Ashland University junior Annie Miles and sophomore Erin Misheff.

Joining Beard All-GLIAC Second Team are: junior Andrea Vogt and sophomore Ashley Gubser of the University of Findlay; sophomore Bryce Hetcher of Ferris State University; junior Elisa Leonard of Ashland; and senior Paige Molnar of Northwood University.

A complete list of the 2010 All-GLIAC Women’s Golf teams are below:

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