WINONA, Minn. — Gia Puch (Des Plaines, Ill.), one of the leaders of the Saint Mary's University women's golf team, was rewarded for her efforts — both on the course and in the classroom — Friday, as the Cardinal junior was named to the National Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar Team.

Puch, who finished as the team's scoring leader with a 92.3 average — including a season-best 82 during the second round of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships last October — was one of only nine MIAC golfers to earn the NGCA academic honor.

A total of 566 women's collegiate golfers in Divisions I, II and III were recognized with this prestigious honor. The criteria for selection to the NGCA All­-American Scholar Team are some of the most stringent in all of college athletics, including a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50.

The National Golf Coaches Association, founded in 1983, is a non­profit organization representing women's collegiate golf coaches. Today, the NGCA represents nearly 500 coaches throughout the U.S. and is dedicated to educating, promoting and recognizing both its members and the student­-athletes they represent.