May 23, 2009
The Arizona State women's golf team continued to collect hardware as they received several awards at the NGCA Banquet. Head coach Melissa Luellen, associate head coach Missy Farr-Kaye and senior Azahara Munoz each received an award while four Sun Devils were named to All-American teams.
Luellen was named SkyCaddie NGCA National Coach of the Year, an award her mother won in 1985. Women's golf coaching legend Linda Vollstedt won the award as the ASU head coach in 1989, 1994 and 1995. This is the first time Luellen has been named National Coach of the Year. In addition, Luellen was honored as West Regional Coach of the Year.
The banquet audience gave Farr-Kaye a standing ovation as she came up to the podium to be honored with the Kim Moore Spirit Award. The award, usually given to a student-athlete, is to recognize one who exemplifies a great spirit toward the game of golf, a positive attitude on and off the golf course, a role model for her team and mental toughness in facing challenges. Farr-Kaye was diagnosed with a recurrence of breast cancer in July. She was able to travel beginning in March, when her treatment concluded.
Azahara Munoz became the first double winner of the Edith Cummings Munson Award. Munoz, who recently graduated with a 3.96 in psychology, was given the honor the second consecutive year as being the All-American with the highest grade point average.
Munoz and freshman Carlota Ciganda were named to the Duramed NGCA All-American First-Team. Both Munoz and Ciganda were in the top 10 rankings throughout the majority of the season.
Junior Juliana Murcia was honored with Duramed NGCA All-American Second-Team accolades. Senior Jennifer Osborn capped her collegiate career with Third-Team honors. In addition, Ciganda, Munoz and Murcia were named to the NGCA West Regional Team.