KU Golfers Named To Academic All-Big 12 Teams

Walt Koebel was named to the Academic All-Big 12 team for the second straight year.

April 21, 2009

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas golfer Walt Koelbel was named to the 2009 Academic All-Big 12 first team for the second straight season, pacing three Jayhawk men’s golfers and six KU women’s golfers named to the teams it was announced on Tuesday.

First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, and the second team is comprised of those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of his/her team’s scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.

Joining Koelbel on the first team on the men’s side were Nate Barbee, a sophomore sports management major and Andrew Storm, a senior majoring in psychology.

Koelbel, a senior business management major has played in all 10 events for the Jayhawks this season and owns a 74.07 scoring average, second on the team. He tied for third at the Louisiana Classics for the best individual finish by a Jayhawk this season.

The Kansas women led the league with six first-team selections, edging Nebraska, which had five honorees. The men’s three first-team selections were just one behind conference leaders Baylor and Texas Tech.

Jayhawk women on the team were Meghna Bal, a sophomore majoring in sports management, Jennifer Clark, a sophomore majoring in art and design, Meghan Gockel, a junior majoring in accounting and finance, Emily Powers, a junior majoring in communication studies, Grace Thiry, a sophomore majoring in sports management, and Sydney Wilson, a sophomore accounting major.

Gockel was one of three women’s golfers in the league to achieve a perfect 4.0 GPA. It marked the second straight year Gockel posted a perfect 4.0.

On the course, Gockel has played in seven of 10 events for the Jayhawks and owns a 79.47 average. She claimed medalist honors at the Duramed Collegiate Invitational to open spring play.

The Kansas women will head to the Big 12 Championships at Lubbock, Texas April 24-26 while the men will compete in the league meet at Hutchinson, Kan. April 27-29.

2009 Kansas Academic All-Big 12 First Team Selections

Men

Nate Barbee Fr. Sports Management Dakota Dunes, S.D.

Walt Koelbel Sr. Business Management Englewood, Colo.

Andrew Storm Sr. Pyschology Omaha, Neb.

Women

Meghna Bal So. Sports Management New Delhi, India

Jennifer Clark So. Art and Design Piper, Kan.

Meghan Gockel* Jr. Accounting and Finance Dallas, Texas

Emily Powers Jr. Communication Studies Quincy, Ill.

Grace Thiry So. Sports Management Victoria, Australia

Sydney Wilson So. Accounting Lawrence, Kan.

* - 4.00 GPA