April 20, 2010

Complete Academic All-Big 12 Release (Big12Sports.com)

IRVING, Texas - Three Baylor men's golfers were named to the 2010 Academic All-Big 12 Men's Golf Team, the league office announced Tuesday. Baylor's three selections were the second-most on the men's side behind Kansas State (four).

Sophomores Joakim Mikkelsen and Lorenzo Scotto represented Baylor on the first team, while junior Cody Paladino earned second-team recognition. Mikkelsen, a communication studies major from Drammen, Norway, earned Academic All-Big 12 honors for the first time. Mikkelsen has played in all 11 tournaments and holds a team-best 72.58 stroke average through 33 rounds. He has posted 17 rounds of par or better, a 0.94 score vs. par and five top-10 finishes, including a victory at the Border Olympics in March.

Scotto, a junior academically with a double-major in distribution management and technology and international business, and Paladino were named Academic All-Big 12 for the second consecutive season. A native of Pordenone, Italy, Scotto ranks third on the team with a 73.73 stroke average and eight rounds of par or better in 11 tournaments this season.

Paladino, who became the first Baylor men's golfer to participate individually at the NCAA Championships in 2009, was named to the Academic All-Big 12 second team a year after earning first-team accolades. The Kensington, Conn., native has a 75.92 stroke average and three top-25 finishes to his credit in 24 rounds (eight tournaments) this season.

Baylor increases it total to 18 Academic All-Big 12 selections under seventh-year head coach Greg Priest, including 14 first-team honorees.

Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, the men's golf academic all-league squad is comprised of 17 first-team members combined with 12 on the second team. First-team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, and the second-team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of his team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.

2010 ACADEMIC ALL-BIG 12 TEAM (BAYLOR SELECTIONS)
First Team (3.20-plus GPA)

Second Team (3.00 to 3.19 GPA)