Ruiz Earns All-Big 12 HonorsRuiz Earns All-Big 12 Honors
Women's Golf

Ruiz Earns All-Big 12 Honors

Lincoln - Nebraska women's golfer Stephanie Ruiz earned second-team All-Big 12 honors from the conference coaches, the league office in Dallas announced on Thursday.

Ruiz, a senior from Edmond, Okla., earned Big 12 Golfer-of-the-Month honors for the month of February, and has produced a 75.48 stroke average this season, helping her win the Baja Invitational Tournament title in Ensenada, Mexico, with a 223 (75-73-75). She added a second-place finish at the Central District Invitational with 219 (73-75-71).

Ruiz helped the Huskers capture the Baja Tournament title as a team, while also boosting them into fourth place at the Central District Invitational.

Ruiz has exceeded the high expectations set for her coming into the 2005-06 season, shooting 78 or better in 25 of 33 rounds, including six rounds under par.

Ruiz set a school record for an 18-hole round with a 67 at the Marilyn Smith/Sunflower Invitational in Manhattan, Kan., at the par-72, 6,046-yard Colbert Hills Country Club. She broke the previous record of 68 set by Amy Roux in the fall of 1998 and tied by Elizabeth Bahensky in fall 2000 and Merynn Ito in the fall of 2004.

Ruiz tied for first place at the end of tournament regulation with a one-under-par 215, but lost to Kansas State’s Helene Roberts on the second playoff hole.

In addition, Ruiz has produced five top-five scores thus far in the 2005-06 season and owns the best stroke average on the team.

Ten student-athletes were honored, while Ashley Knoll of Texas A&M won Big 12 Player-of-the-Year honors after winning the Big 12 individual title. Texas A&M Coach Jeanne Sutherland earned Big 12 Coach-of-the-Year accolades.

Five student-athletes earned first-team All-Big 12 awards and five received second-team honors.

First-Team All-Big 12
Amanda Costner, Jr., Kansas
Stephanie Wavro, Jr., Missouri
Candie Herrera, Jr., Oklahoma State
Pernilla Lindberg, Fr., Oklahoma State
Ashley Knoll, Jr., Texas A&M

Second-Team All-Big 12
Stephanie Ruiz, Sr., Nebraska
Karin Kinnerud, Fr., Oklahoma State
Julia Best, Jr., Texas
Brenda Norris, Sr., Texas A&M
Christa Spedding, Jr., Texas A&M