April 27, 2009

Frisco, Texas - After joining the Texas State women's golf team and having a tremendous impact in the 2009 season, Bobcats Sydney Liles and Gabby De Reuck were honored with the Southland Conference Newcomer and Freshman of the Year awards announced league officials Monday morning.

"Sydney and Gabby are very deserving of the recognition they have earned from the Southland Conference today," said head coach Mike Akers.

Liles was also named to the SLC first team after leading Texas State with a 76.93 stroke average in 31 rounds of play. A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Liles claimed three Top-10 finishes and one championship title. The senior closed out her season with the Bobcats with a sixth-place tying finish at the league championship tournament.

"Sydney has been a tremendous asset to our program this year," added Akers. "She has led the team on and off the golf course. Sydney was very consistent throughout the year and I am glad she was able to finish her career her at Texas State."

De Reuck earns the fourth SLC Freshman of the Year honor for Texas State. The George, South Africa native led all league freshmen with a 78.42 stroke average in 19 rounds of golf and was the lowest scoring freshman in the championship tournament with a 12th-place finish.

"I feel this is the first of many awards to come for Gabby," said Akers. "Her golf swing is so good that as she continues to develop her putting, there is no limit to how many golf tournaments she will win."

Central Arkansas senior Nicole Forshner was named the Women's Golfer of the Year for the second-straight season. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi head coach Carol Blackmar took home Coach of the Year honors.

First team honors went to Therese Nilsson (Lamar), Maggie Welch (McNeese State) and Allie Jordan (UTSA), along with Liles and Forshner.