July 7, 2010

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Three members of the Notre Dame women’s golf team have been selected as National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) All-American Scholar team members for NCAA Division I. Senior Kristin Wetzel (Middletown, N.Y.) along with juniors Katie Conway (Wading River, N.Y.) and So-Hyun Park (Seoul, South Korea) all brought home the honor for the third time in their Irish careers.

To be honored by the NGCA as an All-American Scholar you must follow a list of very strict criteria; you must hold a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.50 and student-athletes must have competed in at least 50% (Division I) or 66% (Division II & III) of the college’s regularly scheduled competitive rounds during the year.

Wetzel competed in nine events for the Irish on the 2009-10 campaign carding a 80.79 stroke average. Her highest finish of the year came at the rain-shortened Alamo Invitational where she carded a season best 76 to finish in a tie for 22nd. Throughout her career she has played 96 rounds in the starting five and played in over 30 events. Her career best round came in the second round of the Cardinal Cup where she fired a one-under par round of 71. She finished her Irish career with a 78.69 average. Wetzel majored in finance through the Mendoza College of Business in addition to carrying a supplemental major in philosophy.

Conway took part in all 11 events during her junior season with the Irish, sporting a 78.17 average. She claimed a BIG EAST all-conference honor for her steady play on the course with 27 (out of 30) rounds counted towards the team score. Her top collegiate round to date was achieved at the Heather Farr Memorial during her sophomore season where she penned a two-under par 70. Conway is enrolled in the Mendoza College of Business with a concentration in finance.

Park competed in 10 events throughout her junior year, totaling a 79.63 scoring average. She fired a two-day total of 147 to finish in a tie for eighth at the rain shortened Bettie Lou Evans Invite (75-72). Finishing off the season strong, Park shot a 246 (87-82-77) at the BIG EAST Championship to claim a top-25 finish. Park has won medalist honors twice throughout her career for the Irish, topping the leaderboard at the Napa River Grill Cardinal Cup with a three-under par 213 and the Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational with a four-under par 212. Park is second on Notre Dame’s all-time scoring average list with a 76.19 average, bested only by teammate Becca Huffer who holds a 75.24 average. Park currently is majoring in accounting within the Mendoza College of Business.

This year’s triumverate of Wetzel, Conway and Park join the likes of Shannon Byrne (2001-04) and Katie Brophy (2003-06) as the only Irish three-time recipients of All-American Scholar Distinction.

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