Perryman, Hammond and Castle earn Academic All-America honors from CSC

AUSTIN, Texas (June 22, 2023) – A trio of Milligan University golfers were named to the College Sports Communicators' NAIA Academic All-America At-Large First Team on Thursday.

Two-time Milligan graduate Alayna Perryman, rising senior Gabby Hammond and rising junior Kate Castle were tabbed as First Team Academic All-Americans. The trio of Buffs are the first three CSC women's golf Academic All-Americans in program history and 23rd, 24th and 25th Academic All-American honorees in school history.

Perryman earned her MBA from Milligan with a 3.90 grade point average this spring. One of the most decorated players in program history, she is a two-year NAIA All-American, three-time All-Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) First Team pick and was the 2021 AAC Player of the Year. During her final season at Milligan, Perryman earned six all-tournament honors and was the medalist at the Northeast Tennessee Spring Shootout.

Hammond maintained a 4.0 average as an economics and mathematics major. She posted four top-10 finishes including an all-tournament showing at the NAIA Direct Qualifier/AAC Spring Championship. At the NAIA National Championship Hammond earned a top-40 individual finish. Hammond fired a two-under 71 (par 73) to match Milligan's then-single round record at the East Tennessee Collegiate.

Castle became the fourth NAIA All-American in program history this season when she earned Second Team All-America honors. A social work major with a 3.83 GPA, Castle was named the 2023 AAC Player of the Year. She set Milligan's single-round (-3, 69) and 36-hole (-1, 143) tournament records at the AAC Fall Preview. She collected All-AAC First Team honors and totaled seven all-tournament finishes over the course of the season.

Castle finished the season as the No. 13 player in the NAIA according to Golfstat's final 2022-23 rankings with an adjusted scoring average of 76.11. She earned all-tournament honors at the 2022-23 NAIA National Championship at TPC Deere Run with a seventh-place finish. Castle was the daily leader in round two (E, 71), led the national championship field with 13 birdies and finished six shots off the national champion.

In 2022-23, Milligan women's golf won the NAIA Direct Qualifier/AAC Spring Championship to clinch the program's eighth trip to the NAIA National Championship in 12 seasons. The Buffs made the cut at the NAIA National Championship for the fourth time and posted a ninth-place team finish, the best in school history.

The College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® NAIA at-large program separately recognizes student athletes from the following sports: beach volleyball, bowling, competitive cheer and dance, golf, lacrosse and wrestling. To be eligible for the award, voted on by Sports Information Directors, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative 3.30 GPA or higher and must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at their institution. Nominees must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games and be a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletic and academic credentials.

Milligan and Missouri Baptist led all NAIA institutions with three first team selections.