Sports
O’Rear and Cain named Scholar Athletes
Sunday, 22 July 2012 by Keith Bahlmann
The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's golf team placed two student-athletes on the National Golf Coaches Association's (NGCA) All-American Scholar-Athlete Team. Kristen Cain and Taylor O'Rear were the two UMHB players to earn NGCA All-American Scholar-Athlete honors.
Cain, a freshman from Kingwood High School, is majoring in education at UMHB. She posted a stroke average of 82.1 for the Cru this season. Cain won the individual title at the Schreiner Fall Classic and posted four top ten finishes. She tied for 28th place at the NCAA Division III National Championships after shooting a four-round total of 316. Cain was a Second Team American Southwest Conference All-Conference selection after finishing in a tie for 6th place at the ASC Tournament.
O'Rear, a freshman from Salado High School, is majoring in nursing at UMHB. O'Rear led the Cru with an 80.6 stroke average and also recorded five top ten finishes. She won the ASC Championship with a 10-stroke victory over teammate Sara Eckert to claim ASC Player of the Year and First Team ASC All-Conference honors. O'Rear finished in a tie for 46th place at the NCAA Division III National Championships after shooting 322 for UMHB. She was also an NGCA All-West Region selection.
The Cru women five tournaments during the 2011-12 season, including a 31-stroke win at the ASC Tournament. That victory earned UMHB a league record ninth conference title and sent the Cru to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. UMHB finished sixth at the national tournament with a 1267 team total.
Student-Athletes must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.50, post a stroke average of less than 95 and play at least 12 competitive rounds to be eligible for NGCA honors. A total of 585 golfers representing NCAA Divisions I, II and III earned NGCA All-American Scholar-Athlete honors.
