Women's Golf

June 11, 2012

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State announced its major athletic award winners for 2011-12 on Wednesday, and junior women's golfer Caroline Powers shared the George Alderton Female Athlete of the Year honor for the second-straight year. Powers shared the award with women's soccer senior Laura Heyboer. Powers becomes only the fourth women's athlete to earn the Alderton Award in back-to-back seasons; she's also the third women's golfer to win the award twice (Emily Bastel, 2000 and 2002; Sara Brown, 2007-08).

GEORGE ALDERTON FEMALE CO-ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

(Presented to top female athlete of 2011-12)

CO-WINNER: Caroline Powers (Golf)

Caroline Powers has put together the two best seasons in Michigan State women's golf history in back-to-back years.

A year after setting the school single-season scoring average record with a 73.53, Powers compiled the second-best average at MSU with a 73.78 as a junior in 2011-12.

Perhaps even more importantly, she helped Michigan State reach the NCAA Championships and win back-to-back Big Ten titles.

For her efforts, Powers was named a honorable mention All-American by the National Golf Coaches Association and First-Team All-Big Ten for the second straight year while finishing the season ranked 32nd in the nation by Golfweek.

The Bowling Green, Ohio, native placed in the top 10 in six of MSU's 12 tournaments, including a victory at the Mary Fossum Invitational in September for her second career tournament win in which she was named Big Ten Golfer of the Week. Powers also garnered Big Ten Golfer of the Week honors after shooting a school-record low for 54 holes with an 8-under 208 (69-68-71) at the Tar Heel Invitational in October.

Powers tied for third at the Big Ten Championships with a 2-over 218 and was named to the All-Championships Team for the second straight year.

With a minimum of 60 rounds played, Powers is currently first in MSU history with her 74.39 career average through three seasons and has 15 career top-10 finishes. She compiled a 76.03 average in 11 tournaments as a true freshman, which is the best freshman average in school history.

This marks the sixth time a women's golfer has earned the Alderton Award (Powers-2011; Sara Brown, 2007-08; Emily Bastel, 2000 and 2002).

Powers is also just the fourth women's athlete at Michigan State to win the Alderton Award in back-to-back seasons (Brown, 2007-08; Jamie Krzyminski, 2003-04; Julie Farrell-Ovenhouse, 1989-91) and only the fifth to win the award twice (previously mentioned winners; Emily Bastel, 2000 and 2002).

Powers, an education major, is a two-time NGCA All-Scholar Team and Academic All-Big Ten selection.

"It's very humbling to be named the Alderton Award winner along with Laura," said Powers. "I'm honored to be named with all of the other athletes who have won this award before. I just love Michigan State. Coach and everyone else in the department have really given me the opportunity to succeed, so I'm just very grateful.

"Last year was great, but I wanted nothing more than for my team to be with me at the NCAA Championships (Powers qualified individually for the 2011 NCAA Championships). This year was awesome and so much fun to have everyone there, and we could be proud of our entire year."

"It's an awesome honor and a tribute to Caroline and what she's been able to accomplish as both a player and a student-athlete at Michigan State," said women's golf head coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll. "I think her record speaks for itself - she's a two-time All-American, was ranked in the Top 10 in the nation for a majority of the year, and has the two best scoring averages in school history. Unquestionably she's one of the best athletes at Michigan State. It's a great award for her and the program, and it says a lot about what she's doing for us."

PAST WINNERS - ALDERTON FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR:
2011-Emily MacLeod (cross country/track) and Caroline Powers (golf); 2010-Floor Rijpma (field hockey); 2009-Nicole Bush (cross country/track & field); 2008-Sara Brown (golf); 2007-Sara Brown (golf); 2006-Liz Shimek (basketball); 2005-Kristin Haynie (basketball); 2004-Jamie Krzyminski (cross country/track & field); 2003-Michelle Carson (cross country) and Jamie Krzyminski (cross country/track & field); 2002-Emily Bastel (golf); 2001-Summer Mitchell (swimming & diving); 2000-Emily Bastel (golf); 1999-Carrie Carpenter (softball); 1998-Jill Lusher (field hockey); 1997-Sevatheda Fynes (track & field); 1996-Val Sterk (volleyball); 1995-Karen Winslow (soccer); 1994-Susan Francis (track & field); 1993-Jodi Blotcher (gymnastics); 1992-Misty Allison (cross country/track & field); 1991-Julie Farrell-Ovenhouse (swimming & diving); 1990-Julie Farrell (swimming & diving); 1989-Julie Farrell (swimming & diving); 1988-Michelle Ingalls (gymnastics); 1987-Odessa Smalls (track & field); 1986-Mary Schoenle (swimming & diving); 1985-Kelly Becker (volleyball); 1984-Deanne Moore (softball); 1983-Judi Brown (track & field); 1982-Molly Brennan (track & field).

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