SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Denver women's golf team was recognized for its outstanding season this year, having head coach Lindsay Kuhle and freshman Katarina Drocarova took home individual awards for the end of the year in a release by the Summit League on Thursday.

Kuhle was named Summit League Coach of the Year for the seventh time in her eight years in the league, while Drocarova took home the Newcomer of the Year award.

"Katy had an excellent start to her career this season, especially in the first three events she played in the Tri Match, Arizona Wildcat and shooting a 68 the final round, and at ASU," Kuhle said. "She was consistent this year and someone our team could really count on with scoring. She has the ability to go low because of her ball-striking ability."

Drocarova burst on the scene for the Crimson and Gold in 2021, being named to the All-Summit League First Team after posting a 74.47 scoring average, second lowest on the team. The Pezinok, Slovakia native recorded six rounds of par-or-better on the year. She had two top-10 finishes, highlighted by tying for sixth place at the Summit League Championship.

"She is very deserving of this award and I proud of how she came in this January and really stepped up and performed and competed," Kuhle said. "The future is bright for Katy and I am excited to see it the next three years."

For Kuhle, she continues to build on the rich tradition of the Pioneers, guiding the team to its 19th straight NCAA Regional appearance and sixth Summit League Championship in seven years in the league.

"I am honored to be named the Summit League Coach of the Year," Kuhle said. "I owe it all to my players and my volunteer assistant coaches Don Hurter who helped from California this year and Jessica Carty, a Pioneer graduate of 2017. Jess has been with us the last four tournaments and helped assist me during these events and coach Anna Zanusso in the last events of the season. She made a tremendous impact on her game and scoring."

The ninth-year coach continued her excellent history of developing her players, highlighted with five players being named to the Summit League All-League teams. The Colorado native had the team peaking at the right time, winning the Dick McGuire Invitational and Summit League Championship before tying for 10th at the NCAA Stanford Regional, the best finish by the team since 2010.

"It is an honor to be named the coach of the year as our teams and coaches in the Summit League had a solid year and continue to make their teams and players better," Kuhle said. "It's been a challenging year without an assistant position but my players really stepped up with different roles on the team to compete for championships, win two events, and compete for a chance to make the national championship this season with our best finish at Regionals since 2010 and highest end of the season ranking since 2013."

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