|
NGCA To Induct Three New Members into Hall of Fame Two Players and One Coach To Be Recognized for Outstanding Contribution to Women's Collegiate Golf Contact Roger Yaffe CHICAGO (January 2, 2003) - Former outstanding college golfers Tracy Hanson and Kyle O'Brien Stevens and long time coach Julie Manning will be inducted into the NGCA Hall of Fame during the NGCA Hall of Fame Banquet on Wednesday evening, January 22 at the Sheraton World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Hanson and O'Brien Stevens will become the 41st and 42nd players respectively entered into the Hall of Fame and Manning will become the 37th coach inducted. Crediting her parents and her teaching pro as her inspirations, Tracy Hanson was a four-time All American at San Jose State University. The highlights of Hanson's storied amateur career began in 1989 when she won the Women's Western Junior Championship. Her collegiate career accolades include 10 tournament victories and leading the San Jose State Spartans to a 1992 NCAA Championship. In 1991, Hanson received the Edith Cummings Munson Golf Award and in 1993 the Marilyn Smith Award for Excellence given to an individual who excelled on the golf course and in the classroom. In 1992, she was a member of the U.S. Curtis Cup team. Post college, Hanson has continued to achieve on the golf course being a successful player on the LPGA Tour since 1995 and having won the Indonesian Open in 1994. From the golf course, to the classroom to home, Kyle O'Brien Stevens is recognized as an inspiration to all who have come to know her. O'Brien Stevens's accomplishments as a collegiate player speak for themselves. During her junior year in 1979, she was medalist and led her Lady Mustangs to an AIAW National Championship. In that same year, O'Brien Stevens was named Golf Magazine Collegiate Player of the Year and received the Honda Broderick Award as the nation's outstanding female collegiate player. O'Brien Stevens also became SMU's first two time All American and graduated cum laude. Her accomplishments post college are equally as impressive. O'Brien Stevens was named LPGA Rookie of the Year in 1981 and later returned to her alma mater to coach the Lady Mustangs from 1986 - 1992. When not on the golf course, O'Brien Stevens is a leader in her community thru her volunteer efforts in local schools, church and continuing to participate as an active alumna of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. Striving to bring out the best in her players has always been important to Julie Manning. Her upbeat personality, her ability to motivate players and her enthusiastic style have been influential in guiding Iowa State Cyclone women's golf to new heights during her tenure. Manning's collegiate coaching career begin in 1985 and her teams have seen much success including garnering a 1993 Big Eight Conference Championship and finishing second in each of the three following consecutive years. In 1993, Manning was recognized as an NGCA Regional Coach of the Year. Her student-athletes have also demonstrated their commitment to education and have responded with a 98% graduation rate throughout her coaching career. Manning is a vocal promoter of women's collegiate golf, having served as two consecutive terms as President of the National Golf Coaches Association. She also is active with other golf organizations including serving as a Board member of the American Junior Golf Association and as an Executive Council Member of the College Golf Foundation. For more information or ticket availability for the NGCA Hall of Fame Banquet, please contact NGCA Headquarters at (312) 551-0814. About NGCA The National Golf Coaches Association, founded in 1983, is a non-profit organization representing women's collegiate golf coaches. The NGCA was formed to encourage the playing of college golf for women in correlation with a general objective of education and in accordance with the highest tradition of intercollegiate competition. Today, the NGCA represents over 325 programs throughout the U.S. and is dedicated to educating, promoting and recognizing both its members and the student-athletes they represent. |