Complete NGCA All-American Scholar Teams

WINONA, Minn. — Gia Puch (Des Plaines, Ill.) and Katelyn Rizzi (Austin, Minn.) were the on-the-course leaders for the Saint Mary's University women's golf team in 2008.

The duo also proved to be the team's off-the-course leaders, as well, as both Puch and Rizzi were among 67 NCAA Division III women's golfers named to the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) All-American Scholar Team, it was announced Wednesday.

The criteria for selection to the All-American Scholar Team included a minimum GPA of 3.50 and student-athletes must have competed in at least 66 percent of the team's regularly scheduled competitive rounds.

Rizzi, a management major, was the team's scoring leader in 2008, finishing with an 89.9 average, while Puch, a criminal justice major, was second on the squad with a 92.1 average. Puch also boasted a season- and career-low round of 81 in helping SMU to an eighth-place finish in the season-ending conference championships.

The Cardinal duo was two of eight golfers from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selected to the Division III team.