Mueller and Jao-Javanil Named to All-Big 12 Team

April 28, 2011

NORMAN, Okla. - The Big 12 Conference announced the selection of University of Oklahoma golfers Ellen Mueller and Chirapat "Ja" Jao-Javanil to the 2011 All-Big 12 Team Thursday.

The recognition of the Sooner duo marks the first time since 2004 that Oklahoma has had multiple golfers awarded all-conference status. OU has had 10 golfers receive All-Big 12 honors a total of 15 times in the conference's 15 year of competition.

"I'm very proud of Ellen and Ja," said OU head coach Veronique Drouin. "This is an incredible honor for both of them. They've both shown tremendous work ethic in putting together amazing seasons."

Mueller was awarded All-Big 12 status in 2010 and is now the fourth Sooner in program history to earn all-league honors in multiple years. The senior has recorded 26 top-20 finishes in her OU career, including eight this season. Mueller captured the Dale McNamara Invitational title this past fall, leading the Sooners to a 23-stroke victory.

Jao-Javanil has collected nine top-15 finishes in her 10 events this season and has placed in the top-10 in four of her last five tournaments. Her 73.57 stroke average leads the squad and is on pace to break the program record of 74.41, set by Mueller last season.

The Thailand native became the 13th Sooner to make the prestigious list of all-conference honorees and only the second OU freshman. Lisa Meldrum was an All-Big 12 pick her freshman season in 2001 and went on to achieve all-conference honors in each of her four seasons at OU.

The 10 2011 All-Big 12 Team honorees were selected by using the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings following this past weekend's Big 12 Championship. The Player and Newcomer of the Year are automatically selected as the highest ranked individuals from the same rankings.

Texas sophomore Madison Pressel was named Player of the Year and Colorado's Jessica Wallace earned the Newcomer of the Year award. Iowa State's Christie Martens won Big 12 Coach of the Year in a vote by the league's head coaches.

All-Big 12 Team:
Emily Talley, Colorado, Jr.
Jessica Wallace, Colorado, Jr.
Laurence Herman, Iowa State, Sr.
Sasikarn On-Iam, Iowa State, Fr.
Prima Thammaraks, Iowa State, Fr.
Chirapat Jao-Javanil, Oklahoma, Fr.
Ellen Mueller, Oklahoma, Sr.
Madison Pressel, Texas, So.
Katerina Ruzickova, Texas A&M, Fr.
Sarah Zwartynski, Texas A&M, Sr.

Player of the Year:
Madison Pressel, Texas, So.

Newcomer of the Year:
Jessica Wallace, Colorado, Jr.

Coach of the Year:
Christie Martens, Iowa State