FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The #NSU50 "Top Moments in NSU Athletics History" continues with the 22nd moment on the list: Nova Southeastern University women's golfer Maria Garcia Austt becomes the school's first-ever NCAA National Player of the Year and NCAA Freshman of the Year.
 Garcia Austt wrapped up a season for the ages, as after just her first year with NSU women's golf, she swept all the possible national awards at the National Golf Coaches Association Division II Awards Banquet. She was named the PING NGCA DII Player of the Year, DII Freshman of the Year and was a member of the Duramed FUTURES Tour NGCA DII First Team All-American.
 
Following her 2006-07 freshman year in which she was the No. 1-ranked golfer in all of DII, Garcia Austt also swept the spate of Sunshine State Conference awards, winning SSC Women's Golfer of the Year and Women's Golf Freshman of the Year. She led the conference with a 74.65 stroke average, notching 11 top-10 finishes, eight within the top five and four as medalist. She was second individually at both the SSC Championships and at the NCAA National Championships.
 
"Maria was the first 'elite' golfer the women¹s golf program had and certainly set the foundation for other greats like Sandra Changkija and Taylor Collins to consider NSU," said the then-head women's golf coach, Kevin Marsh. "Maria put NSU women¹s golf on the map and without her becoming part of the program, I'm not certain the long term success would have taken place. Whenever I speak about the women's golf program and the success it had, I always start the conversation with Maria."
 
By the time Garcia Austt wrapped up her Shark career, she would be a four-time NCAA DII First Team All-American and was part of two NCAA National Champion squads, including the school's first ever in 2009.

Check back with NSUSharks.com next Tuesday for the next #NSU50 "Top Moments in NSU Athletics History."

Moment No. 1: NSU Athletics is Born
Moment No. 2: Knights Chosen as School Mascot
Moment No. 3: Hansley Hired as Director of Athletics
Moment No. 4: Nova Adds Four Sports
Moment No. 5: Nova Joins NAIA
Moment No. 6: Nova Adds Three More Teams
Moment No. 7: Nova Helps Form FIAC
Moment No. 8: Nova Wins First Conference Championship
Moment No. 9: Baseball and Volleyball Win First Conference Titles
Moment No. 10: NSU Adds Softball
Moment No. 11: NSU Adds Women's Soccer and Wins FSC Tournament Championship
Moment No. 12: NSU Names Ray Ferrero Jr. as School's Fifth President
Moment No. 13: NSU Adds Women's Basketball and Wins Conference Title in First Season
Moment No. 14: NSU Jumps to NCAA Division II and Sunshine State Conference
Moment No. 15: Kyle Ruwe Becomes NSU's First NCAA All-American
Moment No. 16: NSU adds Rowing, Tennis and Men's Cross Country
Moment No. 17: NSU Breaks Ground on University Center
Moment No. 18: Rembe Becomes NSU's First Female NCAA All-American
Moment No. 19: NSU Men's Golf Wins First SSC Championship
Moment No. 20: NSU Unveils Sharks as New Mascot
Moment No. 21: NSU Enshrines Inaugural Hall of Fame Class

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