Oct. 2, 2008

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina freshman Blaire Minter was today named the Southern Conference's Women's Golfer of the Month as the league office announced its sport-specific honored student-athletes for September.

The award is the first in Minter's young career at WCU. She is also just the fourth Catamount all-time to garner the honor from the conference, joining three-time honorees Brandy Andersen (2002-05) and Ashley Hovda (2002-05), and Malin Fryk (2005-08).

Minter won her first collegiate tournament in her first career start for the Catamounts at the Draper Valley Intercollegiate back on Sept. 8-9. She carded a two-day total of 144, including a career-low round of 70, to win the tournament as the Catamounts finished second as a team.

Minter is the eighth different Catamount since 1993 to win the individual play portion of a tournament, and is also just the third freshman in WCU history to win in her first season, joining Line Cordes (2002-03) and Brandy Andersen (2002-06) - both of which went on to claim the top rookie honors in the Southern Conference.

At the Great Smokies Intercollegiate on Sept. 15-16, the Marietta, Ga., native finished tied for fourth with a two-day total of 142 as the WCU won the team title for the sixth time in the tournament's 10 year existence. Minter matched her career-low round with a 70 on the opening day.

Through four rounds in the first two events of the season, Minter is averaging 71.50 strokes per round to lead the SoCon by nearly a full stroke.

As a team, Western Carolina is off to its best seasonal start since 2005, which saw the Catamounts win the first three team titles to open the year. On the strength of a runner-up finish and team championship, the Catamounts are currently No. 66 in the national rankings.

Western returns to action Oct. 11-14 at the Starmount Fall Classic, hosted by SoCon-foe, UNC Greensboro, at the Starmount Forrest Country Club.

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Catamount Sports Women's Golf