Rockets tie for country best with school-record seven on national scholar team

July 11, 2017 | Athletics, News
By Steve Easton



Toledo tied for the national high with a school-record seven Rockets named to the 2016-17 National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) All-American Scholar Team.

The previous best for UT for the NGCA’s scholar squad members was four.

The women’s golf team tied for the national high with a school-record seven Rockets named to the 2016-17 National Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar Team.

Junior Napaphan Phongpaiboon, sophomore Natcha Daengpiem, sophomore Pimchanok Kawil, sophomore Hannah Kochendoerfer, sophomore Pinyada Kuvanun, freshman Thunpijja Sukkasem and freshman Saranlak Tumfong each earned a spot on the squad.

The criteria for selection to the All-American Scholar Team are some of the most stringent of all college athletics. The minimum cumulative GPA is 3.50, and student-athletes must have competed in at least 50 percent (Division I) or 66 percent (Division II and III) of the college’s regularly scheduled competitive rounds during the year.

“We had an amazing year in the classroom with a school-record 3.78 team GPA and now having seven members on the NGCA All-American Scholar Team tops it off,” Head Coach Nicole Hollingsworth said. “I am so proud of all seven individuals on how they have performed in the classroom and on the golf course.”

Phongpaiboon, who possesses a 3.757 grade-point average in international business, ranked fourth on the team with a 77.2 stroke average and notched six top 20 finishes. She posted a career-best fourth-place showing at the Ball State Sunshine Invitational to help the Rockets to one of two tournament titles. Phongpaiboon also earned MAC Golfer of Week honors after registering a fifth-place finish and career-low four-under par 212 at the Pat Bradley Invitational.

A communications major with a 3.823 GPA, Daengpiem ranked fifth on the team with a 78.1 stroke average and notched two top 20 showings.

Kawil ranked second on the team with a 75.6 stroke average en route to earning second-team All-Mid-American Conference honors. She was named co-MAC Golfer of Week after tying for second place with a season-best one-under par 215 at Red Rocks Invitational. Kawil, who possesses a 3.689 GPA in business, tied the school record with a five-under par 67 at the Golfweek Conference Challenge and notched three top five finishes and eight top 20 finishes.

A computer engineering major with a 3.898 GPA, Kochendoerfer posted an 80.4 stroke average and registered a season-best tying 13th-place finish at the Rocket Classic.

Kuvanun, who possesses a 3.625 GPA in international business, earned second-team All-MAC accolades after leading the Rockets with a 74.9 stroke average and eight top 10 finishes. She also received co-MAC Golfer of Week honors on a pair of occasions by tying for second place at the Idle Hour Collegiate Championship and the Red Rocks Invitational, respectively, with an even-par 216 and with a season-low one-under par 215.

A management major with a 3.600 GPA, Sukkasem posted a 79.9 stroke average and earned MAC Golfer of the Week honors by tying for first place at the Ball State Sunshine Invitational with a 15-over par 231.

Tumfong registered a 77.0 stroke average and holds a perfect 4.000 GPA in media communication. She garnered her top showing by tying for fifth place at the Indiana Invitational with a season-best eight-over par 224 (77-74-73).

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