May 25, 2007
Daytona Beach, Fla. - Freshman Anna Nordqvist, head coach Melissa Luellen and three Sun Devil women's golfers were honored Friday at the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) Awards Banquet held in Daytona Beach, Fla., the site of the 2007 NCAA National Champions.
Nordqvist was named Freshman of the Year by the NGCA while Luellen was named West Region Coach of the Year. Nordqvist (first team), sophomore Jennifer Osborn (first team), and sophomore Azahara Munoz (second team) all earned NGCA All-America honors.
Nordqvist, ranked second in the nation, was also named Pac-10 Player of the Year and Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year. Nordqvist is only one of three women's golfers at ASU to win Freshman of the Year honors. Most recently, Louise Stahle received the award in 2005. Nordqvist finished tied for second or better in six of her 10 tournament appearances this season. She is also one only two golfers in the nation to have an under-par scoring average (71.81).
Luellen's honor marks the third straight year she has been named West Regional Coach of the Year. Luellen led the Sun Devils to five tournament victories this season, including a four tournament win streak that helped ASU secure the no. 1 ranking in the country heading into Nationals. Luellen was also named Pac-10 coach of the Year after she coached ASU to their first Pac-10 title in 11 years. Previously, Luellen was named Central Region Coach of Year in 2002 as the head coach of Tulsa.
Osborn and Munoz, who earned All-America honors for the second year in a row, were also named first team all Pac-10. Prior to Nationals, Osborn was ranked seventh in the nation while Munoz was ranked 15th.
Additionally, Nordqvist, Munoz and freshman Juliana Murcia were named to the All West Regional team.