Albany Herald

Albany State A.D. Richard Williams smiles after being presented the conference’s annual All-Sports Award for the women’s program recently. (Photo special to The Herald)

ATLANTA — In one of closest finishes in conference history, Albany State received the conference’s annual Women’s All-Sports Award for the 2011-2012 season, earning the honor for the eighth time in the last nine years.

The Lady Rams, who finished in second place last year after winning the award seven consecutive times, earned a total of 24 points, winning a conference title in track & field (10 points), while finishing second in both volleyball and cross country (7 points each).

Kentucky State finished second with 18 points. Fort Valley State, which won last year, and Tuskegee finished tied for third in the standings with 17 points each.

ASU MEN FINISH FIFTH: The ASU men’s sports teams, meanwhile, tallied 15 points for its finishes in the conference this past season and claimed fifth place in the All-Sports Award contest.

ASU’s 15 points were earned in football (7), track & field (4) and baseball (4).

Benedict won with 31 points, followed by Morehouse (28), while Paine College and Stillman College tied for third with 17 points each.

GSW golfers Griffin, Gahman qualify for prestigious Ga. Amateur

AMERICUS — Georgia Southwestern golfers J.P. Griffin and Nate Gahman, a former Lee County star and Herald Player of the Year, have qualified for the 2012 Georgia Amateur Championship with scores of 70 and 71, respectively. They did so on the Marshwood Course at The Landings Club in Savannah over the weekend.

Griffin finished runner-up at the 69-player event with his 2-under par, while Gahman finished a shot back of his teammate to tie for fourth place with a 1-under.

The Georgia Amateur Championship, a Georgia State Golf Association event, will be held July 12-15 at Settindown Creek at Ansley Golf Club in Roswell.