The bad news? School is back in session for student-athletes across the country. The good news? That means college golf is officially back, as well.
After a busy summer amateur schedule, it’s time to focus back on the college game. What better way to celebrate than with preseason award watch lists?
The ANNIKA Award honors the player of the year in college women’s golf, as selected by college golfers, coaches and members of the college golf media. The players are listed alphabetically. Players on the ANNIKA Award Watch List were selected by a panel of Golfweek and Golf Channel writers.
Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings: Women’s team | Women’s individual
Amari Avery, USC
Avery joined USC as a spring semester freshman last year and won two of her first three starts before adding a third at the NCAA Stanford Regional. Bad news for the rest of the country: she’s only getting better.
Amari Avery smiles as she leaves the No. 12 tee during a practice round for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, Friday, April 2, 2021. Photo by Augusta National
Carolina Chacarra, Wake Forest
Chacarra was named ACC Freshman of the Year last season and picked up second team All-American honors after two wins and four top-five finishes with a T-7 at the NCAA Franklin Regional. Expect more of the same this season.
Carolina Chacarra at the Wake Forest Bryan National Collegiate at the Bryan Park Champions Course on Monday, September 27, 2021 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Wake Forest Athletic Communications)
Hannah Darling, South Carolina
Made an immediate impact for the Gamecocks last season and earned first team All-SEC honors thanks to five top-five finishes in 10 starts. The 2021 R&A Girls Amateur champion will be the key to South Carolina’s success this season.
South Carolina’s Hannah Darling. (Photo: South Carolina Athletics)
Blanca Fernandez Garcia-Poggio, Texas A&M
The senior comes off her best year yet in college after starting all 12 tournaments for the Aggies and earning first team All-SEC First honors. Earned a win at the 2022 NCAA Championship in the quarterfinals against Florida State’s Alice Hodge and made an ace in her semifinal loss to Oregon’s Ching-Tzu Chen.
Blanca Fernández García-Poggio, Texas A&M (Texas A&M photo)
Megha Ganne, Stanford
Ganne enters her anticipated college career already ranked No. 37 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking without hitting a shot. She’ll be a key player in Stanford’s title defense as the lineup returns four of five starters after losing senior leader Aline Krauter. Ganne, as a 17-year-old high school student, qualified for the US Women’s Open and held a share of the lead after the opening round before finishing as the low amateur in 2021.
Amateur Megha Ganne waves to the gallery after putting out on the 14th green during the third round of the US Women’s Open in San Francisco at The Olympic Club. Photo by Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Charlotte Heath, Florida State
Heath is a two-time All-ACC and Golfweek honorable mention All-American and is primed to make it a three-peat for both in 2022-23. Earned four top-10 finishes at the Moon Invitational (fourth), Valspar Augusta (T-5), Clemson Invitational (T-7) and the ACC Championship (T-10).
Rachel Heck, Stanford
Heck won the ANNIKA Award in 2021 is ready to contend again in her junior season after a disappointing sophomore campaign riddled by an illness that still saw her earn third team All-American honors. Expect to see Heck bounce back in 2022-23.
Rachel Heck of the United States plays her stroke from the No. 12 tee during the second round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Thursday, March 31, 2022.
Maddison Hinson-Tolchard, Oklahoma State
Big 12 Player of the Year and a second team All-American last season after winning medalist honors at the NCAA Stillwater Regional. Added six top-10 finishes and finished inside the top 25 in every tournament except the NCAA Championship (T-31).
Maddison Hinson-Tolchard hits her approach shot on the 16th hole during the second round of stroke play at the 2022 US Women’s Amateur at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash. on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. (Darren Carroll/USGA)
Rachel Kuehn, Wake Forest
A favorite for the award, Kuehn has four wins in her Wake Forest career and finished last season ranked No. 6 in the Golfweek/Sagarin individual rankings. She was the 2022 ACC Player of the Year and a first team All-American and represented the United States at both the Arnold Palmer Cup and Curtis Cup.
Team USA player Rachel Kuehn hits her tee shot on hole eleven during Foursomes Matches at the 2022 Curtis Cup at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. on Friday, June 10, 2022. (Chris Keane/USGA)
Ingrid Lindblad, LSU
Might be the most consistent player in women’s college golf. The senior Swede has won seven times as a Tiger and has 20 top-10 finishes in 25 starts. Has been an ANNIKA Award finalist the last three years.
Ingrid Lindblad, of Sweden, lines up a putt on the 11th green during the first round of the US Women’s Open golf tournament at the Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, NC on Thursday, June 2, 2022. (AP Photo/ Chris Carlson)
Cynthia Lu, Oregon
Pac-12 individual champion and is the first player in program history to earn all-Pac-12 first-team honors in consecutive seasons. Won the Mason Rudolph Championship and was key in Oregon’s run to the finals at the 2022 NCAA Championship.
Oregon’s Hsin-Yu (Cynthia) Lu. (Photo: Oregon Women’s Golf)
Caley McGinty, Ohio State
Transferred from Oklahoma State after a stellar start to the season. McGinty boasted a stroke average of 68.58 that led to four top-five finishes in five starts including consecutive individual wins at the Schooner Fall Classic and the Jim West Challenge. Reunites at Ohio State with head coach Lisa Strom, who coached McGinty for two years at Kent State from 2019-21 where she won both the MAC Player and Freshman of the Year awards, as well as the individual conference championship in 2021.
Caley McGinty while at Oklahoma State. (Photo: Oklahoma State Women’s Golf)
Carolina Melgrati, Arizona
As a freshman earned honorable mention All-American honors and was a Pac-12 All-Conference selection. Didn’t finish outside the top 20 and tied for third at the Pac-12 Championship.
Carolina Melgrati on the 15th green during the 2022 Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed Hosted by Henrik & Annika at Halmstad Golf Club in Sweden. (Photo: Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Emilia Migliaccio, Wake Forest
After taking off the 2021-22 season to focus on graduate school, the 2019 ACC Champion and 2022 North & South Amateur champion returns to the Demon Deacons for one last shot at a national title.
US member Emilia Migliaccio reacts on the second hole green during the Four-Ball match against the Great Britain and Ireland Team at the 2021 Curtis Cup at Conwy Golf Club in North Wales, United Kingdom on Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021. (Oisin Keniry/USGA)
Benedetta Moresco, Alabama
Earned her first college win at the Ally last year as a sophomore and added five more top-10 finishes in 11 starts. Finished T-11 at the NCAA Championship.
Benedetta Moresco of Italy on No. 12 during round one of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Wednesday, March 30, 2022.
Anna Morgan, Furman
Was last year’s SoCon Female Athlete of the Year. Not Golfer. Athlete. Finished ninth at the NCAA Championship and was a second team All-American as well as conference Player of the Year after picking up wins at the Lady Paladin Invitational and UNF Collegiate. Earned six top-five finishes and nine top-10 finishes in 12 starts.
Furman’s Anna Morgan. (Photo: Jeremy Fleming via Furman Women’s Golf)
Alessia Nobilio, UCLA
In 11 starts, Nobilio earned four top five finishes, including a T-3 at the Pac-12 Championship. Will be a key player for UCLA after the Bruins lost ANNIKA Award finalist Emma Spitz.
Alessia Nobilio reacts after putting on the first hole during the first round at the 2020 US Women’s Open at Champions Golf Club (Jackrabbit Course) in Houston, Texas on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. (Chris Keane/USGA)
Bohyun Park, Texas
As a freshman, Park was a second team All-American after seven top-20 finishes, four inside the top 10 and three in the top five. Was key for the Longhorns in their Big 12 Championship win after a T-3 finish on the individual leaderboard.
Amanda Sambach, Virginia
Honorable mention All-American as a freshman as well as an All-ACC selection. Led the team with a 72.85 stroke average, the lowest freshman scoring average in program history, and caught fire down the stretch, finishing T-5 at the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional and third at the ACC Championship.
Megan Schofill, Auburn
Hasn’t won since 2020 but is constantly in the mix, as seen with her third team All-American and second team All-SEC honors in 2022. Finished third at the Ally and second at the SEC Championship. Looking to earn All-SEC honors for a fourth consecutive season.
Megan Schofill, Auburn
Brooke Seay, Stanford
Flies under the radar with the likes of Rachel Heck, Rose Zhang and now Megha Ganne on the roster, but Seay is far from an afterthought. The senior was key for Stanford in its NCAA Championship last season and was a first team All-American and All-Pac-12 selection. Five top-10 finishes in seven starts.
Stanford’s Brooke Seay celebrates on the 18th green 2022 NCAA Championship. (Photo: Darren Reese/Stanford)
Erica Shepherd, Duke
Earned four top-five and five top-20 finishes last season en route to a third team All-American selection. Finished runner up at both the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational and ACC Championship.
Erica Shepherd walks to the second green during the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)
Chiara Tamburlini, Ole Miss
First team All-SEC and second team All-American last season, just the fourth All-American in program history. Finished inside the top five three times and top 10 seven times in 11 starts last season.
Ole Miss golfer Chiara Tamburlini hits the second fairway during the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship Final at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. Photo by Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Amelia Williamson, Florida State
2022 All-ACC and third team All-American honors. Won the Florida State Match Up and finished T-4 at the Landfall Tradition. Added five more top 10 finishes at the Jim West Challenge (T-10), Moon Invitational (ninth), Clemson Invitational (T-10), ACC Championship (T-8) and NCAA Tallahassee Regional (T-9).
Amelia Williamson, Florida State (Photo by Mike Olivella)
Rose Zhang, Stanford
Last year’s ANNIKA Award winner, Zhang won the NCAA Championship as well as her first three starts as a freshman. She’s been the best player in the world for some time now and that tide doesn’t appear to be turning any time soon.
Rose Zhang of the United States walks the fairway after playing her tee shot on the 1st hole during Day Three of the AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield on August 06, 2022 in Gullane, Scotland. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
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