Tulane’s Penttila, Don Collect State’s Top Honors from LSWA
Jun 22, 2016 | Women's Golf
Green Wave land three golfers on all-state squad
NEW ORLEANS - Tulane senior golfer Emily Penttila and head coach Lorne Don were tabbed the 2016 Louisiana Golfer and Coach of the Year, respectively, while Penttila, senior Silvia Garces and freshman Laura Munoz were each named to the all-state first team by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA).
"This is a tremendous honor for Emily and another testament to the outstanding year she had for our program," Don said. "I am also excited for Silvia and Laura to be honored for their achievements this season."
A native of Helsinki, Finland, Penttila claimed her second LSWA Golfer of the Year award, having earned the honor as a sophomore in 2014, and concludes her stellar career as a four-time all-state selection.
During her final season in the Olive and Blue, Pentilla played 33 rounds in 11 tournaments and posted a 72.97 scoring average, which was the second-best single-season average in school history. She completed the season ranked No. 50 (Golfstat.com) and was named to the all-conference first team for the fourth consecutive season with her selection to the American Athletic Conference first team.
Penttila recorded 16 rounds of par or better, including three rounds in the 60s and all 33 of her rounds this season counted toward the team scores. She set the school record for the lowest 54-hole total with a 9-under 204 during her runner-up finish at the Hurricane Invitational and notched six Top-10 finishes, including three Top-5 efforts.
A two-time recipient of the state's top coaching honor, Don led Tulane to the NCAA Regionals for the third straight campaign in his tenure and for the eighth consecutive season. The Green Wave came up one stroke shy of advancing to the NCAA Championship for the fourth straight year at the NCAA Bryan Regional. Tulane's 298.27 season scoring average was the fourth-best effort in school history. The Green Wave recorded four rounds of par or better and four Top-5 finishes, including a season-best runner-up effort at the UCF Challenge.
Garces is a repeat performer to the All-Louisiana first team after collecting the honor as a sophomore in 2014. This season, she played 33 rounds in 11 tournaments and posted a 75.18 scoring average, which ranked second on the team.
Garces, who hails from Cali, Colombia, recorded six rounds of par or better, including a season-low 3-under 69 during the final round of the Windy City Collegiate Champ, where she also notched her highest finish of the year of fourth place. Twenty-five of her 33 rounds counted toward the team score.
In her rookie season, Munoz played 27 rounds in nine tournaments and produced a 76.30 scoring average. The native of Ibague, Colombia, finished par or better four times, including a career-low 3-under 68 during the final round of the Hurricane Invitational. Twenty-one of her 27 rounds counted toward the team score.
2016 All-Louisiana Women's Golf
Emily Penttila, Tulane
Silvia Garces, Tulane
Kathleen Gallagher, LSU
Laura Munoz, Tulane
Sydney Cavin, LSU
Golfer of the Year: Emily Penttila, Tulane
Freshman of the Year: Kathleen Gallagher, LSU
Coach of the Year: Lorne Don, Tulane
