CLEMSON, S.C. — Ana Paula Valdes and Gracyn Burgess have been named All-American Scholars by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association on Monday. It marks the sixth consecutive year that at least one member of the Clemson women’s golf team has been named to the WGCA Scholar team.
The criteria for selection to the All-American Scholar Team are some of the most stringent in all of college athletics. The minimum cumulative GPS is 3.50.
Valdes joins an exclusive group as only two other Tigers, Sloan Shanahan and Marisa Messana, have been named All-American Scholars three times since the team’s inaugural season in 2013. Messana was the first golfer in program history to earn the prestigious honor four consecutive years.
Both were starters on the Tigers team and helped Clemson reach its fourth straight NCAA Tournament.
Valdes finished second on the team in stroke average with a 73.03. The Mexico native had seven rounds in the 60s, 12 under par rounds and two top 10 finishes, including her first career win at the Battle at the Beach. She tied for the lowest round (65) and best tournament (207). Last month the junior communications major earned her third All-ACC Academic Team honor as well.
Burgess, a product of Lexington, S.C., finished with a stroke average of 74.96 for the 2018-19 season. The freshman sport communications major had two rounds in the 60s, including her career best round of 66, four-under par at the Gator Invitational. Burgess finished third on the team in birdies (78) and tied third for best tournament (217).
