FRISCO, Texas _ The University of Central Arkansas had three players named to the All-Southland Conference women's golf teams on Thursday, including the SLC Freshman of the Year.

    Senior Fernanda Lira and junior Emma Svensson were first-team All-SLC selections, while freshman Geraldine Wong was a second-team choice and was also named the SLC Freshman of the Year. UCA's three selections were the most in the conference. UCA has now won three of the past four freshman of the year awards, including Lira in 2015 and Svensson in 2016.

    "With her scoring average at 75, to come in as a freshman and be able to do that is quite an accomplishment,' said UCA head coach Natasha Vincent. "And especially when she had a few rounds that weren't really true to her game. I'm very proud of her for that.

    "And Fernanda and Emma, it was expected. They both played really well this year. If you look at what Fernanda's scoring average was when she first got here as a freshman, and then see how much that kid has improved... it's been pretty phenomenal. And I just think Emma is bound to do great things in her golf career. So I wasn't too surprised by either of those awards. I'm very proud of all three of these young ladies.'

    Lira and Svensson are three-time All-SLC honorees and both were selected Wednesday to play in the NCAA Tallahassee Regional on May 7-9. Wong finished sixth in the SLC in scoring average in her first season at UCA at 75.0 strokes per round. 

    Lira, from Mexico City, Mexico, finished third at last week's SLC Championship, shooting 75-73-75. Svensson, from Halmstad, Sweden, finished fourth, while Wong, from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was 10th. UCA finished as runnerup for the SLC championship. Svensson averaged 73.2 strokes per round this season and won two tournaments. She will be playing in her second NCAA Tournament. Lira averaged 73.3 strokes and had six Top 10 finishes this season. 

     The SLC All-Conference teams and individual superlatives are voted on by each league school's head coach and sports information director. Voting for oneself or one's own athletes is not permitted.

2017-18 Southland Women's Golf All-Conference Teams
Player of the Year: Hanna Alberto, Sam Houston State
Freshman of the Year: Geraldine Wong, Central Arkansas
Newcomer of the Year: Eva Martinez, Lamar
Coach of the Year: David Shuster, Houston Baptist
 
FIRST TEAM:
Hannah Alberto - Sam Houston State
Emma Svensson - Central Arkansas
Kaity Cummings - Houston Baptist
Fernanda Lira - Central Arkansas
Elodie Chapelet - Lamar

SECOND TEAM:
Lexi Brooks - Houston Baptist
Jenna Phillips - Sam Houston State
Geraldine Wong - Central Arkansas
Autumn Bynum - Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Eva Martinez - Lamar