NGCA RELEASE
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. - The National Golf Coaches Association handed out six postseason awards to Augustana on Sunday, including All-America citations for
Maggie Leland and
Emily Kvidera.
Leland was named All-America first team and All-Central Region, Kvidera was tabbed All-America honorable mention,
Jennifer Benoy picked up All-Central Region honors and
Peggy Kirby was deemed the Central Region Coach of the Year.
Kelsey Bortnem was also given the Kim Moore Spirit Award.
Leland was also an All-America honorable-mention and All-Central Region pick last season. The 2011-12 NSIC Golfer of the Year and an All-NSIC choice, Leland was the medalist at the conference tournament and collected NSIC Golfer of the Week honors five times this season. The sophomore from Alexandria, Minn., had three tournament wins and finished tied for 13th at the NCAA Championships.
Kvidera, a junior from Blaine, Minn., was also an All-America honorable mention honoree in 2010-11. She was named All-NSIC and NSIC Golfer of the Week on April 18 and finished third at the NSIC Championship. Kvidera placed ninth at the national tournament.
A junior from St. Croix Falls, Wis., Benoy had a strong finish to the 2011-12 campaign, including a fifth-place performance at the Central Region Championship. She took 68th at the NCAA Championships.
Kirby wrapped up her ninth season as the leader of Augustana women's golf this season. She is now a three-time Central Region Coach of the Year, having also won the award in 2006-07 and 2010-11. In 2011-12, Kirby guided the Vikings to their third-straight conference and region titles while securing her third NSIC Coach of the Year certificate. Augustana's 10th-place performance at the NCAA Championships was the fourth-overall and third-straight top-10 national finish in program history.
Bortnem, a junior from Volga, S.D., is Augustana's first recipient of the Kim Moore Award. The award's namesake played golf for Indianapolis from 1999 to 2003. Moore was an inspiration to all as she persevered through many physical challenges while playing collegiate golf. Her positive outlook and dedication toward the game was only out done by her sense of humor and passion for the game.
The award honors a student-athlete or coach who exemplifies a great spirit toward the game of golf, has a positive attitude on and off the golf course, is a role model for her team and exhibits mental toughness in facing challenges.
To be nominated, the student-athlete must be of high moral character, in good standing at the college making the nomination and actively participate within the guidelines of the golf program at her respective school. Bortnem was diagnosed with a rare progressive congenital disorder in the spring of 2011. Throughout a harrowing time, her goal was to return to competition in 2011-12. She did just that, competing in 12 rounds this season. Bortnem finished tied for 69th at the NCAA Championship.
“Her unwavering motto of 'Just got to believe' has given her the strength to be victorious against considerable odds,” Kirby said. She is an inspiration to her family, to her school, and to her team.”
