CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — Maria Bastarrica, Morgan Ellison and Olivia Williams have been named All-American Scholars by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA).
This marks the second career WGCA All-American Scholar award for Ellison while Bastarrica and Williams each collected their first honor.
Just last week, Ellison and Williams were named to the College Sports Communicators’ 2024 Academic All-District® Academic All-District Women’s At-Large Team.
Bastarrica recorded a perfect 4.0 GPA as a finance major during her first year with the Roadrunners. A native of San Sebastian, Spain, she played in 10 tournaments and posted a 74.93 stroke average, the best mark for a true freshman since Ana Gonzalez in 2017-18. She logged eight par-or-better scorecards and turned in her top 54-hole score of 1-over-par 217 (72-71-74) in tying for 42nd at the Jim West Challenge. Her top finish was a tie for 25th at the Nexus Collegiate, while she also cracked the top 30 at the Dale McNamara Invitational by tying for 28th with a 220 (74-72-74).
Ellison boasts a 3.96 GPA as a finance major and recently wrapped up her third season with the Roadrunners. A native of Peachtree City, Georgia, she played in 11 tournaments and registered a 73.97 stroke average, 10 par-or-better scorecards and a trio of top-15 finishes in 2023-24. She fired a 7-under-par 209 (68-70-71) to tie for 13th place at the Sam Golden Invitational last September and posted a 2-under 214 (69-74-71) for 12th at the UNF Collegiate in March. She claimed 15th place at the Dale McNamara Invitational after turning in a 217 (72-72-73).
Williams, a rising junior from Worcestershire, England, totes a 3.53 GPA while studying psychology. This past season, she appeared in 10 tournaments and logged a 74.3 stroke average, a 2.37 stroke improvement from her freshman campaign. She recorded her top finish by tying for 10th place at the Badger Invitational after posting a 218 (73-74-71), while her best 54-hole total of 1-under 215 came at the Jim West Challenge last fall when she carded rounds of 73, 73 and 69. She turned in 11 par-or-better scorecards, including a pair of sub-70 rounds.
The criteria for selection to the All-American Scholar Team are some of the most stringent in all of college athletics and continue to demonstrate the high-level academic achievements of our players. To be selected, a student-athlete must:
- Have an overall cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher.
- Be an amateur and on the team's roster through the conclusion of the team's season.
- Have played in 50% of the college’s regularly scheduled competitive rounds during the year nominated through the team's conference championship.
To see the full announcement of the 2023-24 WGCA All-American Scholar Team, please click here.
-UTSA-