Morton Named IWU's Women's Golf "MVP"

19 May 2004

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Stephanie Morton, who capped her season by finishing 47th in the national Division III tournament, has been named "Most Valuable Player" for the Illinois Wesleyan University women's golf team.

Morton (Elgin, Larkin HS), who was the medalist of the 2003 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship for the team champions, finished with a four-round total of 354 at the Division III championships last week and was in eighth place after an opening-round 80.

Morton, who graduated this month, averaged a team-best 84.1 for 22 rounds and was the team’s low scorer in six of the 11 tourneys in which she played.

Sophomore Ashley Higginson (Pekin HS) and freshman Alison Mayer (Glenview, Glenbrook South HS) were second and third, respectively, in scoring for IWU in 2003-04. Higginson averaged 85.4 strokes over 17 rounds and had her season-best of 77 when she finished third in the CCIW championships.

In her first season, Mayer was IWU’s low scorer in two of her first three events and averaged 85.7 in 18 rounds. Her season-best was 78 at a fall tournament in Whitewater, Wis.

Head coach Kathy Niepagen awarded letters to seven players. They are, with hometowns and high schools:

SENIORS – Paige Lewis (Normal, West HS), Stephanie Morton (Elgin, Larkin HS).

SOPHOMORES - Ashley Higginson (Pekin HS), Megan Teschner (Barrington HS).

FRESHMEN – Andrea Johanns (Farmer City, Blue Ridge HS), Alison Mayer (Glenview, Glenbrook South HS), Allison Schmale (St. Libory, Freeburg HS).

CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206