BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford's Gabi Nicastro, Grace Engel and Anika Richards were all named to the All-America Scholars Team by the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA), the organization announced on Tuesday.
 
The criteria for selection to the All-American Scholar Team are some of the most stringent in all of college athletics and continue to demonstrate the high-level academic achievements of our players. To be selected, a student-athlete must have an overall cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher, be an amateur and on the team's roster through the conclusion of the team's season and have played in 50 percent of the college's regularly scheduled competitive rounds during the year nominated through the team's conference championship.
 
Nationally, a total of 1,551 women's golfers were named to the team.
 
Nicastro ranked third in the Southern Conference with a stroke average of 72.59 in 27 rounds of golf this season. She had six top-10 finishes during the season, including four top-five finishes. Nicastro had one tournament win, finishing first at the ULM Invitational. She earned SoCon Golfer of the Week honors four times throughout the year, including earning National Golfer of the Week distinction on April 2 after shooting a school-record 62 at the ULM Invitational.
 
Engel finished second on the team and sixth in the SoCon with a 74.19 stroke average. She finished in the top 10 in four of the final five tournaments in the spring including earning individual medalist honors at the Golfweek/Stifel Spring Challenge. Engel was named the SoCon Golfer of the Week on April 15.
 
Richards came in third on the team with a 75.30 stroke average, playing 27 rounds of golf. She had three top-10 finishes,
including tying for seventh at the Chris Banister Golf Classic, tying for eighth at the SoCon Championships and tying for
ninth a the Mercer Invitational. She was named the SoCon Golfer of the Week on Feb. 11.
 
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS:
For the latest news and information on Samford women's golf, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordWomensGolf (Facebook), @SamfordWomensGolf (Instagram) and @SamfordWGolf (Twitter).