Women's Golf Places Four on the Academic All-District Team

DENVER, Colo. - Azumi Arai, Samantha Bruce, Annika Cruz and Shayna Lu of Seattle University women's golf have been named on the 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District At-Large Team. 

The Redhawks continued to set program records during the 2022-23 season, breaking the all-time record in scoring average (298.33), par or better rounds (three), made birdies (320) and par five scoring (4.9573) as well as holding the second best par three (3.2374) and par four (4.2833) scoring average. As a team, Seattle U shot its lowest ever round during the second round of The Clash at Boulder Creek back in October, posting a six-under 282. The Redhawks finished the event with their lowest ever 54 hole total of 863. 

Arai was a vital member of the team score all season, averaging 76.96 over 27 rounds and nine tournaments. The native of Irvine, California, recorded the 14th best ever par five scoring (5.0857) in SU history as well as set a new career-low round of 71 at The Clash at Boulder Creek. The senior is majoring in Business Analytics earns her seventh career academic award after collecting WGCA All-American Scholar and All-WAC Academic honors the past three years. 

Bruce wrapped up her collegiate career with her ninth career finish inside the top-10, tying for seventh overall with a three-round total of 222 (70-77-75) at the WAC Championship. The native of Makati City, Philippines, had a very successful season before the conference tournament, claiming three additional finishes inside the top-five and another two inside the top-15. Bruce opened the year with a historic performance at the Green Wave Classic in New Orleans, La., setting a new school record for lowest round (64), lowest round vs. par (8-under), lowest 36 hole total (137) and lowest 54 hole total (210). The graduate student set new program records for single-season scoring average (73.27), counting scores (97%), made birdies (100) and par five scoring average (4.7435). Bruce claims her fifth career academic award after taking Academic All-WAC the past two years and WGCA All-American Scholar the previous two years. 

Cruz enjoyed a successful sophomore campaign, competing in six tournaments with an average score of 76.72 over 18 rounds. The sophomore set a new single round low of even 71 at the Coeur d'Alene Collegiate Invitational in September in route to her best career performance of 222. The native of Milpitas, California, is majoring in Business and claims her first career academic award. 

Lu grabs her third career academic award after claiming WGCA honors and Academic All-WAC honors during her freshman season. The sophomore was another crucial member of the team score, averaging 76.29 over 24 rounds in eight tournaments. The native of Honolulu, Hawaii's best finish this season came at the 2023 GCU Invitational, tying for 19th place with a three-round total of 219 which was a season low. 

The 2023 Academic All-District® Women's At-Large Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in the athletic realm and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

All Academic All-District honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot and will be announced on June 21. Seattle U was one of four Western Athletic Conference schools to have an athlete named to the team and recorded the most from a women's golf team. 

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