LEXINGTON, Ky.?Junior Beth Felts was honored as the co-Southeastern Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year as announced by the league offices Thursday.

The junior from Chattanooga, Tenn., shares the honor with Florida?s Sandra Gal who is also a junior.

Felts, a dual-major in pre-physical therapy and business management currently holds a 4.0 grade point average. This honor given out by the conference office is the first in UK women?s golf history. The program holds 10 Academic All-Americans in their history book and 73 Academic All-SEC nominations since 1986. Felts was tabbed Academic All-SEC in her sophomore campaign.

“Beth has done an amazing job maintaining excellence academically as well as athletically,? said Head Coach Stephanie Barker. ?She is an impressive representative for the University of Kentucky and the SEC.?

The junior led the team in scoring in five tournaments this season and is responsible for the lowest round of any Wildcat in the 2006-07 season. Felts carded a one-under 71 in the second round of the Cardinal Cup. Felts paced the Wildcats for the second consecutive season in the SEC Championships turning in a tie for 37th place as a junior.

For the third consecutive season Felts finished with the second-lowest scoring average on the team with a 78.71 clip. Her career scoring average stands at 78.29.

She is among the all-time leaders in rounds played in school history having appeared in 90 rounds and 31 tournaments. Felts has three career top-10 finishes and six top-20 finishes.

The junior also appears in the record books in par or better rounds for her career with four. Additionally, she appears in the records with her sophomore year of 32 rounds played in one season.

This is the second honor in as many weeks for the UK women?s golf team. Senior Katie Johnson was named to the All-SEC Community Service team for the second consecutive season last week.