Raider trio named WGCA All-American Scholars

Burks, Burris and Long honored by WGCA 

MURFREESBORO - For the fifth consecutive year the Middle Tennessee women's golf program has received multiple honors from the Women's Golf Coaches Association as juniors Jenna Burris and Hanley Long as well as freshman Sophie Burks have each been named WGCA All-American Scholars.

To be named an All-American Scholar, student-athletes must maintain a 3.5 or better GPA, have high moral character and participate in at least half of their team's competitions in the current season in order to be named an All-American Scholar.

The Blue Raiders have now had three honorees in three consecutive seasons, with Burris and Long both being named for the third time.

"Being a true student-athlete, academics come first and this shows their true commitment to their education," Head Coach Chris Adamssaid. "We are very proud of them on their performance on and off the course and for being selected for such a great honor."

Burris, a redshirt junior who competed in all nine tournaments for the Blue Raiders, held a 74.6 stroke average while posting five finishes in the Top 22 this season. After a ninth-place finish at the Conference USA Championship she was named Second Team All-Conference USA, the third all-conference honor of her career.

The Manchester, Tenn., native graduated with a 3.81 GPA in Economics this May and will enter her final season of eligibility this fall while also beginning to pursue her master's degree in management at MT.

Long enjoyed an impressive campaign as a junior, boasting a team-best 73.6 stroke average and earning First Team All-Conference USA honors, her third consecutive all-league nod. She notched four finishes in the Top 12 this season, including a third-place finish at the Conference USA Championship, and was named the league's Most Improved Golfer.

Hailing from Clarksville, Tenn., Long holds a perfect 4.0 GPA in organizational communication entering her senior season.

Burks, a true freshman for the Blue Raiders in 2017-18, appeared in the final seven tournaments of the season and logged a 76.8 stroke average on the year.

The Montgomery, Ala., native landed on the All-American Scholar list for the first time thanks to a 3.90 GPA during her freshman year as an Exercise Science major.