Gustavus Adolphus first-year golfer Sam Falk (Glenwood, Minn.) was named Co-Rookie-of-the-Year as part of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s 2011-12 Women’s Golf Awards released Monday, May 14.
The 2011-12 season was a banner year for first-year talent, so it was no surprise that two of the top newcomers, Sam Falk and Gina Kabasakalis of Carleton, took home this year’s honor. Falk turned in one of the best rookie seasons in recent history, earning All-Conference honors thanks to her third place finish with a three-day total 232 (+16) at the 2011 MIAC Championships.
The rookie from Glenwood, Minnesota finished the season with a stroke average of 81.0 (3rd/team). She tallied three top-five finishes and six finishes inside the top-10. Falk was named MIAC Athlete-of-the-Week on April 17 after her second-place performance at the Augustana Spring Invitational held in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Minnewaska product set a new school record for the lowest 18-hole round with a two-under-par 70 on the opening day, breaking Kelli Groff’s 2005 record of even-par 72.
Falk is the first Gustavus golfer to garner Rookie-of-the-Year distinction since Taylor Drenttel did so in 2009.
As part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC announced the sixth annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for women’s golf. Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition.
Gustavus’ representative on this season’s MIAC All-Sportsmanship Team is senior Taylor Drenttel (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.). Drenttel led the team with an 80.6 stroke average in 22 rounds. The senior recorded a pair of tournament wins and five top-10 finishes this season. She took first at the Division 3 Classic with a 153 (+9) on Sept. 17-18 and Wartburg Spring Invitational with a 155 (+11) on April 21-22.