April 30, 2009

WACO, Texas - Just days after the Lady Bears qualified for its ninth NCAA Regional appearance in the last 10 years, Baylor women's golf coach Sylvia Ferdon has been named the Big 12 Coach of the Year in a vote by the league's head coaches.

Ferdon has helped guide the Baylor women's golf team has finished in the top five in 40 of 68 tournaments through the past seven seasons, including 14 team titles. Of the 96 top-five finishes in program history to date, 81 have come during Ferdon's 15-year tenure. This is her second-career Coach of the Year honor with her first coming during the 2000 season.

"I'm speechless right now. It's just a great honor to be recognized by your coaching peers," said Ferdon. "After a down year last season, it was very satisfying to be able to turn around and bounce right back with such a successful season this year.

"All the credit should go to the team and assistant coach Jordan Cox. It's been a real tough spring with weather conditions and tough competition, but the girls never gave up."

Hannah Burke also took home a Big 12 postseason award for the Lady Bears as the junior from Hertfordshire, England, was named to the All-Big 12 Team for the second time in her career. Burke leads Baylor with a stroke average of 75.4 over 30 rounds of play and has placed in the top 10 in seven of her 10 tournaments this season.

The Lady Bears will next compete in the NCAA West Regional, May 7-9 in Tempe, Ariz.

All-Big 12 Team
Hannah Burke, Baylor, Jr.
Emily Childs, Colorado, Fr.
Julia Potter, Missouri, Jr.
Kendall Dye, Oklahoma, Sr.
Caroline Hedwall, Oklahoma State, Fr.
Amanda Johnson, Oklahoma State, Sr.
Pernilla Lindberg, Oklahoma State, Sr.
Caroline Masson, Oklahoma State, Fr.
Nicole Vandermade, Texas, Fr.
Ashley Freeman, Texas A&M, Jr.
Sarah Zwartynski, Texas A&M, So.

Player of the Year
Caroline Hedwall, Oklahoma State

Newcomer of the Year
Caroline Hedwall, Oklahoma State

Coach of the Year
Sylvia Ferdon, Baylor