Arkansas State Red Wolves Golfer Abi Laker Gets Conference Honor

Courtesy Arkansas State University Athletics Department

JONESBORO, Ark. — With six top-25 finishes to her credit this season and a team-leading 75.7 stroke average per round, Arkansas State Red Wolves true freshman Abi Laker was named to the All-Sun Belt Conference Women’s Golf Team as a first team selection on Thursday.

Laker was one of 12 student-athletes from across the league named to the all-conference squad, which included six players on both a first and second team.  The Red Wolves have now placed a player on the All-Sun Belt Conference Team the last five consecutive years, but Laker becomes the Arkansas State Red Wolves first freshman to earn the recognition since Anna Carling in 2010.

Laker most recently finished tied for sixth at the Sun Belt Conference Championships, earning all-tournament recognition.  She claimed top-10 finishes at four additional tournaments, including a championship showing at the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational.  Laker also put together a top-three performance at the Lady Red Wolf Classic and claimed fourth place at the ORU Shootout.

The Oxfordshire, England, native currently holds the sixth best scoring average in the league and the second best among freshmen.  She posted four sub-par rounds, including a personal best 69 at three different tournaments that included the Sun Belt Conference Championships, Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational and Lady Red Wolf Classic.  Her 69 score was the lowest round posted by an A-State player on the year.

Laker helped lead the Red Wolves to four top-three finishes as a team, including runner-up honors at the Drake Creek Invitational, Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational and Lady Red Wolf Classic.

Joining Laker as first team selections were UALR’s Emelie Westrup, Troy’s Sofia Bjorkman and FIU’s Shelby Coyle, Sophie Godley and Meghan MacLaren.  MacLaren was also named the league’s Freshman of the Year and FIU’s Joe Vogel the Coach of the Year.

The all-conference second team choices included FIU’s Yolecci Jimenez and Tania Tare, Georgia State’s Maria Palacios, ULM’s Alison Knowles, Middle Tennessee’s Olivia Love and South Alabama’s Kristen Golightly.