Sooners Jao-Javanil, Tanguay named All-Americans
University of Oklahoma golfers Chirapat Jao-Javanil and Anne-Catherine Tanguay recorded the two best statistical seasons in school history this year, and on Thursday were honored as All-Americans by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association for their performances. Jao-Javanil was named a first-team All-American while Tanguay earned honorable mention acclaim.
"I’m really proud of both Chirapat and Anne-Catherine," said OU head coach Veronique Drouin-Luttrell. "They’ve worked really hard to be where they are right now and it’s rewarding to see them recognized with these awards. It’s an honor and an accomplishment for our program to have two players selected to the All-America teams."
Jao-Javanil set a single-season school record with her 72.26 scoring average (+0.44 in relation to par), and led OU at last week’s NCAA Championships with a 17th-place finish. The junior from Thailand also set school records with her 22 par-or-better rounds and her par-3 scoring (3.08) and par-4 scoring (4.03) averages.
The 2012 NCAA individual champion, Jao-Javanil won the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic this past October and the SunTrust Gator Invitational in March. She finished in the top 20 in 10 of 11 tournaments and in the top five on six occasions. Jao-Javanil finished the season ranked No. 7 nationally by Golfweek and is currently No. 13 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.
Tanguay’s 73.09 season scoring average (+1.26 in relation to par) ranks as the second best in OU annals and led to a final Golfweek ranking of No. 26. The junior from Quebec, Canada, also posted 10 top-20 finishes in 11 events, including six top-10 showings. She set a school record on par-5 scoring at 4.79 on the year.
Oklahoma, which finished tied for ninth at the NCAA Championships, is coming off the best statistical season in school history. The Sooners posted a school-record eight top-three finishes in their 11 tournaments, and finished in the top two on seven occasions. They entered the season 13th in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings and climbed to a school-record No. 2 ranking this spring before finishing in the No. 4 spot.
OU set school records for scoring average (293.06; old record was 296.64), score in relation to par (+5.76 per round; old record was +8.64), finish percentage (87.3%; old record was 82.9%), par-or-better rounds (11; old record was six), par-4 scoring (4.15), par-5 scoring (4.96) and birdies (387). The three lowest rounds and three lowest 54-hole scores in school history were also posted this year.