Augustana, USF Golfers Earn All-NSIC First Team Honors, Kirby Named Coach Of The Year

Golfers from Augustana and the University of Sioux Falls were named All-NSIC First Team by the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference on Monday.

Vikings coach Peggy Kirby earned coach of the year honors for the fifth straight season.

Augie's Allie Ostrander, Maggie Leland and Marisa Toivonen all earned first team honors from the NSIC.  Ostrander finished third overall at the NSIC Championships shooting a 37-over-par 325 (79-83-82-81). Ostrander has placed in the top-five at the NSIC Championships in three straight seasons, winning the individual title last season. This is the third year in a row Ostrander has been named All-NSIC First Team.

Leland picked up her second career NSIC individual title this season after shooting a 34-over-par 322 (81-77-77-87) in the 72-hole championships. She won the individual title during her sophomore campaign in 2011-12 to go along with second-place finishes as a freshman and junior. Leland has been named All-NSIC First Team in four straight seasons.

Toivonen was second this season in the NSIC with a 78.2 stroke average and finished second overall at the conference tournament two strokes behind Leland. Toivonen shot her best round of the tournament on the final day to finish 36-over-par 324 (87-80-82-75).

USF's Tavia Rutherford earned first team all-conference honors for the second straight season.  Rutherford recorded four top 10 finishes and six top 15 performances.  She finished sixth at the NSIC tournament shooting a four round total of 333. Rutherford’s best round of the championships came in the final day as she shot the second best score with a round of 80.  Rutherford was also one of four individuals selected to compete in the NCAA Central Region Championships at Lake Elmo, Minn.

Kirby is in her 11th season coaching Augustana.  She's led the Vikings to five straight NSIC championships, seven straight regional tournament appearances and six straight NCAA Championship appearances.