MSU Sophomore Ally McDonald Named First-Team All-American

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI/MSU Athletics) – After a season that saw her break or tie every individual single-season mark in the Mississippi State women’s golf record book, Ally McDonald garnered first-team All-American honors, as announced by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association Thursday.

(HailState.com)
Ally McDonald was named 1st-Team All-American by the WGCA on Thursday.

She becomes the first Lady Bulldog to appear on an All-American team since 1995 and only the third player to earn first-team honors. Carri Wood was a two-time first-team selection in 1992 and 1993, while Amandine Vincent earned first-team honors in 1995. This is MSU’s seventh All-American selection overall.

“This is an amazing honor that represents what we have accomplished with golf here at Mississippi State,” McDonald said. “I first have to thank God as well as my family, coaches, teammates and friends. They have been there all along to push me and help me get better. This has been an amazing season and I can’t thank enough people who have contributed to my, as well as the team’s, success. I look forward to next season!”

McDonald posted a school-record scoring average of 72.35, which obliterated the previous record by nearly two strokes (74.20). Her 21 rounds of par or better shattered the record she set last year (9), while her 110 birdies also set a new school mark and her three eagles matched the school record.

The sophomore from Fulton, Miss., earned her first collegiate win in the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown, posting a 2-under-par 214 (71-74-69). In her next tournament, McDonald would nearly notch back-to-back wins as she tied for second in the JMU/Eagle Landing Invitational.

McDonald again made history as she carded a 6-under-par 210 in the Ole Miss Rebel Intercollegiate, which was the schools’ best tournament score at the time. A week later, she posted a tie for third in the talent-packed SEC Championships.

In the NCAA Central Regional, McDonald garnered national attention when she notched a school-record 10-under-par 206 (69-69-68) for her second career win. Her five-stroke victory earned her GolfWeek.com National Player of the Week and vaulted her into the GolfStat.com Top 10 rankings.

Just a week later, McDonald would again prove her prominence as she tied for 10th in the NCAA Championships with a 2-over-par 290 (70-79-70-81).

“Ally has had an amazing year,” third-year MSU coach Ginger Brown-Lemm said. “She is the total package with her dedication, leadership and passion for the game. She is blasting away the old impression of Mississippi State golf. She has worked harder than ever on her technical golf game but has also put in the time along with the team to work on her mind. We dedicate ourselves to an all-round approach to performing our best daily. She is the epitome of that concept.”

McDonald finished the season with a Top 10 finish in nine of her 12 events and a Top 5 finish in seven, including her last four straight. She owns a school-best career average of 73.42 and is on pace to shatter every other school record.