The National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) Wednesday announced the 2005-06 student-athlete and coaches awards for Division III Women’s Collegiate Golf. Winners were recognized at the NGCA Division III Awards Banquet held in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida. Gustavus Adolphus senior Kelli Groff (Bloomington, Minn.) was named Second Team All-American, while first-year Kimbra Kosak (Grand Rapids, Minn.) was honored as Division III Freshman of the Year. Both players were also named to the All-Region IV squad. Kosak is the first Gustavus golfer to win NGCA Division III Freshman of the Year.
Groff, a three-time All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection, has posted the four lowest 18-hole scores in team history this season, including a school-record even-par 72 at the Division III Midwest Classic last fall. During that meet, Groff also posted the school’s best 36-hole score with a 2-over-par 146. Through 36 holes of the 72-hole NCAA Championships, Groff has a season scoring average of 79.64, currently the lowest individual scoring average in Gustavus history. Groff has earned medalist honors in three events this season, while finishing second in two others.
Kosak, who currently has a season scoring average of 83.2 through the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, finished first in the Cobber Open in September after firing an 80 and also finished first individually in Gustavus’ 36-hole dual with Wartburg. Kosak also finished second at the Divsion III Midwest Classic with a 9-over-par 153 and tied for 14th at last fall’s MIAC Championships.
Groff, a management major, is the daughter of Howard and Vicki Groff of Bloomington and a 2002 graduate of Bloomington Jefferson High School. Kosak, who has not declared a major, is the daughter of Mary Kosak of Grand Rapids and a 2005 graduate of Grand Rapids High School.