Judson's Kidwell Headlines Women's Golf Honor Roll
CHICAGO --- Judson University came away as the top award winner when the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference announced its women's golf postseason honor roll on Wednesday morning. The Eagle program claimed five of the 13 total awards that were presented, including gaining a league-best three members on the all-conference second team.
Judson also earned the top honor with the selection of Grace Kidwell (Terre Haute, Ind.) as the CCAC Player of the Year after she recorded three Top 5 finishes and one Top 10 placement during the 2023-24 season.
The sophomore got things started in the fall when she won the Governors State University Tune-Up with a round of 87. She gained her other medalist honor in the spring when she posted a 79 at the Saint Xavier University Invite.
Kidwell added a runner-up finish at Judson's own Fall Invite, where she recorded an 86. Other top efforts included a third-place performance at the CCAC Tournament and a Top 20 mark over a three-day span at a NCCAA national tournament in the fall.
For the year, Kidwell averaged an 86.12 with her best round being a 78 in the first round of the Midwest Classic. She also helped lead her squad to three team titles this past year.
Kidwell, a second team all-conference selection one year ago, was one of five individuals named to this year's first team. She was joined by Olivet Nazarene University's Mara Bakke (Sun Prairie, Wis.), Lizzie Howard (Dunlap, Ill.) and Alexandria Jones (Bloomington, Ill.), the latter two of which were repeat selections.
St. Ambrose University's Amara Lytle (Cedar Falls, Iowa) earned the other spot on the first team. There was also a five-member second team.
Olivet Nazarene used its league-high three first team picks to gain the second-most conference awards. St. Ambrose and Saint Xavier University tied for third place with two awards each. Holy Cross College produced one all-conference selection.
Saint Xavier University's Maddie Davis (Chicago, Ill.) claimed one of the other top individual awards when she was selected as the CCAC Freshman of the Year. She averaged a 96.8 over her 17 rounds played in 10 tournaments this past season.
Davis' best finish came at SXU's own Battle at the Creek in April, where she tied for third by recording her lowest round of the year, an 82. She also placed seventh at the Governors State University Fall Tune-Up and produced three rounds under 90.
St. Ambrose University's Kevin Kwak rounded out the list of award winners. He was recognized as the CCAC Coach of the Year after leading the Fighting Bees program to its first-ever CCAC title last month.
For the complete list of award winners, go to Awards.