Newberry's Bolton and Lincoln Memorial's Malherbe Named South Atlantic Conference Golf Scholar-Athletes of the Year
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Newberry's Harry Bolton was voted the South Atlantic Conference Men's Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year, while Lise Malherbe from Lincoln Memorial earned the women's honor, the Conference office announced today.
The South Atlantic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to one student-athlete in each of the Conference's championship sports, and is voted on by the SAC's Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee. The winners are selected based on their achievements in academics, athletics, service, and leadership.
Bolton, a senior from Canberra, ACT, Australia, holds a 3.875 GPA as a sport management major. He is a six-time Newberry Dean's List honoree and a three-time member of the South Atlantic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll.
"We are so pleased for Harry. What he has accomplished at Newberry is quite impressive," said Newberry head coach Howard Vroon. "He is an outstanding student and he has trained himself to become an excellent golfer. He has set the standard in our program for hours devoted to mastering his craft, and this award is a well-deserved and wonderful add-on to earning medalist honors at the SAC Championship. Harry has put his whole heart into his school work and his golf for the past four years, and he has earned everything coming his way."
Bolton won the 2019 SAC Championship individual medalist honor by two strokes with an even-par 210. He was named Second Team All-Conference, averaging 72.62 strokes per round with four top-10 finishes out of nine events. He had top-five finishes in consecutive tournaments during the 2019 season, and he completed five events at or below par and is ranked No. 96 in Division II by Golfstat. His career scoring average of 73.69 is fourth in school history and sixth in SAC history.
Bolton has been Newberry team captain for the last two seasons, and during each year of his collegiate career he has worked on community service projects at Mid-Carolina and Newberry Country Clubs involving course preparation and maintenance. This season, Bolton completed a 270-hour internship with Newberry Athletics in the Athletic Communications and Game Operations department. He also completed a 50-hour coaching internship with the Newberry men's golf program. For the past three years, Bolton has served as an informal mentor to younger players at the Royal Canberra Golf Club in Australia, where he works as an Assistant Club Professional.
Malherbe, a senior from Mount Juliet, Tenn., has earned a 3.967 GPA in professional golf management. She has twice been named a WGCA All-American Scholar and is a two-time Delta Mu Delta member, an honor society for the top 20 percent of Lincoln Memorial School of Business students. Malherbe is a Chi Alpha Sigma, national athlete honor society, member and a recipient of the Patsy Buckner Cruse & Max Cruse Endowed Scholarship in Business. Malherbe was the valedictorian of the graduating class of December 2018.
"Lise is probably one of the hardest working kids I've ever coached", said Lincoln Memorial head coach Travis Muncy. "She is incredibly proactive and dedicated to all aspects of her life, and wants to be the best at everything she does. Whether it is in the classroom, on the course, or on campus, she just wants to be the best. From a leadership standpoint, she has evolved so much. She's one of those people that if you want to surround yourself with good people, you want to be around her."
Malherbe has played in every tournament in her Railsplitter career. She has a 2019 season scoring average of 75.00 for 10 events and 20 rounds. She never finished outside of the top-12, and she had two individual wins, six top-five finishes, and eight top-10 finishes. A two-time First Team All-Conference selection, Malherbe holds multiple program records: lowest career scoring average (78.17), lowest season scoring average (75.00), and season won-lost percentage (.936). Malherbe has earned a berth as an individual to the NCAA Division II South Region tournament where she finished tied for 26th in the 66-player event.
Malherbe has been a member of Lincoln Memorial's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) since her freshman year and has elevated up the ranks to be the President in her senior year. She has been a part of the Faculty Athletic Advisory Committee for the past two years, the Lincoln Memorial Leadership Council, and has served as a team captain. Malherbe has been an active member in the Harrogate community during her entire career. She has helped underprivileged children Christmas shop, been involved with Make-A-Wish fundraisers through SAAC, ushered at the Lincoln Memorial Women of Service Fashion Show, and handed out candy to the community at Halloween Havoc.
SAC Men's Golf Scholar-Athlete Finalists
Tim Bombosch, Wingate
Anthony Marcinelli, Carson-Newman
Dawson Walker, Lenoir-Rhyne
SAC Women's Golf Scholar-Athlete Finalists
Samantha Fritzinger, Wingate
Taylor Hayes, Carson-Newman
Nabila Inak, Newberry
Katie Tomassoni, Tusculum
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