LAKE CHARLES, La. — LSU’s Melissa Eaton and UNO’s Kenji Murayama have been named players of the year on the 2006 All-Louisiana collegiate golf team as announced Tuesday by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Joining Murayama on the men’s team are Pat Cologan and Tim Kunick of Louisiana-Monroe and Andrew Lanahan and Beck Troutman of LSU.
Named to the women’s team along with Eaton were teammate Alexis Rather, Louisiana-Monroe’s Angela Drane and Sara Larrson and McNeese State’s Lisa Westman.
UNO’s Chris McCarter was selected the men’s coach of the year and LSU’s Karen Bahnsen and McNeese State’s Mike Fluty shared the women’s coach of the year honors.
Other special awards went to Southeastern Louisiana’s Matt Carvell and LSU’s Caroline Martens as Freshmen of the Year and to Louisiana Tech’s Trey McNeill and Louisiana-Monroe’s Marylou Starr as Newcomers of the Year.
Murayama posted a 72.6 scoring average during the season, earning first team all-Sun Belt honors and finished in the top 10 in all but three of his tournaments.
Eaton compiled a 75.1 overall stroke average (74.05 in the spring), ranking 17th in the Southeastern Conference and she also had three top five finishes, shooting a career low 66 at the LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic.
McCarter was also named the Sun Belt Conference coach of the year, leading UNO to two team titles and six top three finishes. The Privateers finished second in the Sun Belt tournament.
Bahnsen led the Lady Tigers into the NCAA tournament for the first time since the 2001 season, LSU shooting its second lowest score in school history in the regionals. Fluty led McNeese to five top 10 finishes including a third place at the Southland Conference tournament.
2006 LSWA All-Louisiana College Golf Teams
Men’s Team
Pat Cologan, ULM Soph Ponca City, OK
Tim Kunick, ULM Sr. Bismarck, N.D.
Andrew Lanahan, LSU Sr. Jacksonville, FL
Kenji Murayama, UNO Sr. Guadalajara, Mexico
Beck Troutman, LSU Fr. Fernwood, MS
Kenji Murayama, UNO – Player of year
Matt Carvell, SE La. – Freshman of year
Trey McNeill, Louisiana Tech – Newcomer of year
Chris McCarter, UNO – Coach of year
Women’s Team
Angela Drane, ULM Fr. Prince Edward Island, Canada
Melissa Eaton, LSU Jr. Kwazulu Natal, South Africa
Sara Larsson, ULM Fr. Visby, Sweden
Alexis Rather, LSU Soph Tupelo, MS
Lisa Westman, McNeese St. Sr. Stockholm, Sweden
Melissa Eaton, LSU – Player of year
Caroline Martens, LSU – Freshman of year
Marylou Starr, ULM – Newcomer of year
Karen Bahnsen, LSU – Co-Coach of year
Mike Fluty, McNeese State – Co-Coach of year