Lady'Back linksters enjoy classroom success

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas women’s golf team was recognized for its academic success by the NCAA it was announced Thursday. The Lady Razorbacks earned selection to the NCAA Division I Academic Performance Program for 2007-08. "My first goal as a coach is to give our players everything they need to be successful in the classroom first and second everything they need on the golf course,” said Shauna Estes-Taylor. “Good grades, a good work ethic and obtaining a degree is the most important part of my being on my team. A players’ success in school is a window in their athletic potential and success on the athletic field. Even in recruiting, I look for good grades first and then their golf ability. That’s why we call young men and women who are looking to play a sport a student-athlete. Student-first, athlete-second.” The NCAA monitors teams Academic Progress Rate or APR scores. The Lady Razorbacks were in the top 10 percent for women’s golf this year. A team’s APR includes eligibility, retention and graduation with teams aspiring to score between 965 to a perfect 1,000 for selection. The NCAA will announced multi-year APR scores for all Division I sports teams May 6. This year, the NCAA honored 712 Division I sports teams with public recognition awards. There were 401 women’s and 311 men’s teams honored and a total of 192 Division I institutions had at least one team recognized. Arkansas was selected as one of only 39 total golf teams who were honored. Women’s tennis had the most selections (46) followed by women’s volleyball (41) and women’s golf (39). For more information regarding Razorback women’s golf or University of Arkansas athletics please visit www.LADYBACKS.com.