April 16, 2021 Article from GOBLUERAIDERS.COM

 

Burks selected to C-USA All-Academic Team

photo of Sophie Burks

MURFREESBORO, TN – Conference USA announced the 2020-21 Women's Golf All-Academic team Friday, with Middle Tennessee senior Sophie Burks making the cut as one of C-USA's Top 5 student-athletes in her sport.

An exercise science major, Burks boasts a 3.81 GPA, is a three-time WGCA All-American Scholar (2018, 2019, 2020), three-time Conference USA Academic Medal Winner (2018, 2019, 2020) and has made the Dean's List in every semester at MT.

She owns a team low 75.4 stroke average in 2020-21 with a team-leading seven rounds of par or better, while her 54-hole total of 210 at this season's Callaway Gardens Invite went down as the fourth best score in program history.

"Sophie is a relentless competitor both in the classroom and on the golf course," Head Coach Chris Adams said. "She is one of many in our program who are deserving of recognition of their academic achievements and a great example of the character we recruit to compete for Middle Tennessee."

Her career stroke average of 74.9 currently stands third in the program record books while her 18 career rounds of par or better rank seventh all-time at Middle Tennessee.

Burks has represented the Blue Raiders in all seven events this season and 31 consecutive events dating back to the fall of her freshman season. She is already a two-time All-Conference USA selection (2019, 2020) and earned Conference USA Golfer of the Week honors on Oct. 15.

The Montgomery, Ala., native's selection gives MT a total of seven All-Academic Team representatives in the last five seasons, more than any other team dating back to the 2015-16 season.

Samantha Gotcher started the streak with selections in 2016, 2017 and 2018 while Hanley Long shared the honors with Gotcher in 2017 and 2018 before being selected again in 2019. There was no All-Academic Team following the 2019-20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.­­

"We have always taken pride in succeeding both academically and athletically at Middle Tennessee, and this just further proves that commitment and validates the hard work of our team," Adams added.