University of Tennessee Athletics
Two On Lady Vol Golf Earn SEC Honors
May 01, 2015 | Women's Golf
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The 2014-15 women's golf awards were announced Friday afternoon by the Southeastern Conference, which were voted on by the 14 head coaches. Tennessee golfers Lucia Polo and Anna Newell have been named to the All-SEC Second Team. Polo was also named the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and Newell was named to the All-Freshman team.
"It's a great honor to have two players named to the All-SEC Second Team," head coach Judi Pavon said. "Our conference is filled with great players, and these two had to have great seasons to earn this award. They have played consistently well all year, which is what it takes to make an All-SEC team."
Polo, a sophomore from Guatemala City, leads the team with a stroke average of 72.71. She's racked up four top-10 finishes, including a team-best seventh place finish at the SEC Championship where she carded a 2-under 70 on the final day.
Polo's academic achievements include carrying a 3.91 GPA in her management/marketing major. She is just the second Lady Vol to earn SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors and is the first since 2005. Polo tied for the honor with South Carolina's Justine Dreher.
"I am so proud of Lucia for the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award," Pavon said. "It's such a great accomplishment to be recognized as a great player and a great student. She is very disciplined and works so hard, so she deserves this."
Freshman Newell follows in her sister's footsteps as she becomes the first Lady Vol to be named to the All-Freshman team since AJ Newell in 2012. Newell holds the teams second best stroke average, 72.73. She has four top-10 finishes in her freshman campaign, including a second place finish and 12 rounds at par or better.
"I'm happy for Anna being named to the All-Freshman team as well," Pavon said. "She is one of the top newcomers in the SEC and this is great recognition of her play."
No. 14 Tennessee will head to San Antonio, Texas for its 23rd consecutive NCAA Regional. The 54-hole event begins on Thursday, May 7 and runs through May 9 at the Briggs Ranch Golf Club.
FIRST TEAM ALL-SEC
Bianca Fabrizio, Texas A&M (SEC Championship Medalist)
Maddie Szeryk, Texas A&M
Marijosse Navarro, Texas A&M
Gabriela Lopez, Arkansas
Madelene Sagstrom, LSU
Justine Dreher, South Carolina
Allyson McDonald, Mississippi State
Caroline Nistrup, LSU
SECOND TEAM ALL-SEC
Emma Talley, Alabama
Chieh Jessica Peng, Mississippi State
Anna Newell, Tennessee
Jennifer Hahn, Vanderbilt
Lucia Polo, Tennessee
Elise Bradley, LSU
Regina Plasencia, Arkansas
Katelyn Dambaugh, South Carolina
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Maddie Szeryk, Texas A&M
Anna Newell, Tennessee
Cindy Ha, Vanderbilt
Sophia Schubert, Auburn
Lakareber Abe, Alabama
Taylor Tomlinson, Florida
Kelli Murphy, Auburn
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Lucia Polo, Tennessee
Justine Dreher, South Carolina
COACH OF THE YEAR
Kalen Anderson, South Carolina
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Madelene Sagstrom, LSU
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Maddie Szeryk, Texas A&M
