TEMPE, Ariz. – Junior Olivia Mehaffey was named a finalist for the ANNIKA Award, as the list of candidates was reduced to ten this morning as announced online by GolfWeek and Golf Channel.
Since 2014, the ANNIKA Award presented by Stifel has been handed out annually to the top player in collegiate women's golf, as selected by college golfers, coaches and members of the golf media. This is the second consecutive year that Mehaffey has made the final watch list of the season, earning a spot in the Top-15 last May.
Mehaffey makes the cut for the final ten after not making the most recent "Watch List" put out by GolfWeek, which narrowed the candidates down to 15. She has forced her way into contention for the award because of her spectacular play down the stretch. The junior has skyrocketed up the Golfstat Individual Rankings, currently sitting in the Top-10 at No. 7, moving up five spots after another outstanding weekend.
When the Sun Devils have needed her the most, Mehaffey has stepped up consistently, taking home the individual title at three of her last five tournaments. Since postseason play began, she has taken her game to a different level. Coming back from four-strokes back on the final day, Mehaffey captured the 2019 Pac-12 Individual Championship in April, edging out fellow ANNIKA Award finalist Stanford's Albane Valenzuela in a playoff hole. She was a big reason why the Sun Devils managed a third-place finish as a team, their highest conference finish since 2016. Thanks to her efforts, she was named Pac-12 Golfer of the Month for April.
List of ANNIKA Award Winners
2018 – Maria Fassi, Arkansas
2017 – Leona Maguire, Duke
2016 – Bronte Law, UCLA
2015 – Leona Maguire, Duke
2014 – Alison Lee, UCLA
Arizona State is one of 24 teams that moves on to the 2019 NCAA Women's Golf Championship, hosted by the University of Arkansas. The tournament will take place from May 17th-22nd at Blessing Golf Club in Fayetteville. The first four days of NCAA's will be stroke play, with the final two days switching to match-play format, which will determine the National Champion. Stayed tuned to our website (thesundevils.com) for information on Arizona State's appearance at the NCAA Championship. Follow us on all of our social media platforms (@SunDevilWGolf) for the latest updates and content on Sun Devil Women's Golf.
Since 2014, the ANNIKA Award presented by Stifel has been handed out annually to the top player in collegiate women's golf, as selected by college golfers, coaches and members of the golf media. This is the second consecutive year that Mehaffey has made the final watch list of the season, earning a spot in the Top-15 last May.
The winner will be announced live on Golf Channel on Tuesday, June 4th and will receive an exemption into the Evian Championships later this summer. Current players, coaches, and golf SID's are eligible to vote for the ANNIKA Award, with the polls opening this morning on the ANNIKA Award website. Voting will also be available at the 2019 NCAA Championships in Fayettville.The field for the the ANNIKA Award Watch List has been cut from 15 to 10. https://t.co/k2c14EzLqA
— Golfweek (@golfweek) May 10, 2019
Mehaffey makes the cut for the final ten after not making the most recent "Watch List" put out by GolfWeek, which narrowed the candidates down to 15. She has forced her way into contention for the award because of her spectacular play down the stretch. The junior has skyrocketed up the Golfstat Individual Rankings, currently sitting in the Top-10 at No. 7, moving up five spots after another outstanding weekend.
When the Sun Devils have needed her the most, Mehaffey has stepped up consistently, taking home the individual title at three of her last five tournaments. Since postseason play began, she has taken her game to a different level. Coming back from four-strokes back on the final day, Mehaffey captured the 2019 Pac-12 Individual Championship in April, edging out fellow ANNIKA Award finalist Stanford's Albane Valenzuela in a playoff hole. She was a big reason why the Sun Devils managed a third-place finish as a team, their highest conference finish since 2016. Thanks to her efforts, she was named Pac-12 Golfer of the Month for April.
Most recently, Mehaffey completed the Norman Regional with a 208 (-8), good enough to earn her a share of the Regional Medalist honors with Oklahoma's Kaitlin Milligan. Mehaffey becomes the eighth Sun Devil to win at least a share of the individual Regional title, last coming when Monica Vaughn won the Lubbock Regional and started her run to the 2017 NCAA Individual National Title. Finishing at eight-under, Mehaffey's 54-hole score to par is the tied for the fourth lowest at NCAA competition in program history. She managed to beat out fellow ANNIKA Award Finalists Jennifer Kupcho and Emilia Migliaccio of Wake Forest for Norman Regional Co-Medalist honors.Pac-12 Title?? ?? Pac-12 Golfer of the Month??
— Sun Devil W. Golf (@SunDevilWGolf) May 6, 2019
Congratulations to @OliviaMehaffey for receiving the conference's monthly honor after a fantastic April!
MORE INFO: https://t.co/sJzwWjxgGw pic.twitter.com/cnZ6jerq1P
Joining Mehaffey on the ANNIKA Watch List are five fellow Pac-12 competitors; Stanford's Andrea Lee and Albane Valenzuela, UCLA's Patty Tavatanakit and Mariel Galdiano, as well as USC's Jennifer Chang. Others featured on the list include last year's winner Maria Fassi of Arkansas, Frida Kinhult (Florida State), with Wake Forest's Jennifer Kupcho and Emilia Migliaccio rounding out the Top-10.After finishing the Norman Regional 8?-under par, Olivia Mehaffey becomes the 8?th Sun Devil to earn at least a share of the Regional Medalist honor! pic.twitter.com/LfXHTblXFC
— Sun Devil W. Golf (@SunDevilWGolf) May 8, 2019
List of ANNIKA Award Winners
2018 – Maria Fassi, Arkansas
2017 – Leona Maguire, Duke
2016 – Bronte Law, UCLA
2015 – Leona Maguire, Duke
2014 – Alison Lee, UCLA
Arizona State is one of 24 teams that moves on to the 2019 NCAA Women's Golf Championship, hosted by the University of Arkansas. The tournament will take place from May 17th-22nd at Blessing Golf Club in Fayetteville. The first four days of NCAA's will be stroke play, with the final two days switching to match-play format, which will determine the National Champion. Stayed tuned to our website (thesundevils.com) for information on Arizona State's appearance at the NCAA Championship. Follow us on all of our social media platforms (@SunDevilWGolf) for the latest updates and content on Sun Devil Women's Golf.