Martens Named Big 12 Coach of the Year; ISU Duo Named All-Conference

IRVING, Texas – Iowa State Women's Golf Head Coach Christie Martens has been named the Big 12 Coach of the Year for the second time in her career. A unanimous choice among the league coaches, Martens was also named the Big 12 Coach of the Year in 2011.

Iowa State senior Pammy Chookaew and sophomore Nichakorn Pinprayoon both earned All-Big 12 First Team honors as well. It is the first all-conference honor for both student-athletes. Chookaew and Pinprayoon each earned a spot on the Big 12 All-Tournament team last week, as Pinprayoon won the event with Chookaew finishing eighth.

In her 22^nd year as the head coach of the Cyclones, Martens has led Iowa State to 16-straight NCAA Regional appearances. Iowa State's 286.81 stroke average this season is the best in school history, as the Cyclonitas have tallied four team titles on the season. All four titles have come during the spring season, bringing home the title in four of their last six contests.

Pinprayoon is putting together one of the best seasons in Iowa State history. Her 71.21 stroke average is the second-best in school history, while her career average of 72.26 is currently the best in program history. She has won three tournament titles this season, the second-most in career in program history. She has five Top 5 finishes on the season and has tallied a team-best three eagles and 114 birdies on the year. She has 21 rounds at par or better, the best mark on the team. Pinprayoon became the fourth Cyclone to win the Big 12 Championship last week.

Chookaew has also put together one of the top seasons in program history, as one of the best careers in Iowa State history winds down. Her 71.42 stroke average this year is the third-best in program history, while her 72.89 career stroke average is the fourth-best in program history. Chookaew has five Top 5 finishes this year, while the Cyclonitas have counted her score for 18-straight rounds played. Her 107 birdies are the second-best on the team, while she leads the way with 396 pars. Her score has counted in 31 of the 33 rounds Iowa State has played this year.

Iowa State enters the postseason as the No. 3 seed in the Simpsonville Regional in Louisville, Ky. The Cyclones will play in the NCAA Simpsonville Regional May 11-13.