SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Following the best season in program history, Stanford freshman Rachel Heck was named the PING WGCA Player of the Year and the WGCA Freshman of the Year Presented by StrackaLine on Wednesday afternoon.
Heck capped off her season by becoming Stanford's first individual to win a national title this week, her sixth win of the season. Heck won each of her final five tournaments, becoming just the third woman in NCAA history to sweep the postseason – winning the Pac-12 Championships, Regionals and Nationals.
A native of Memphis, Tenn., Heck set a new NCAA record with a 69.72 scoring average. Fifteen of her 25 rounds were in the 60s, including a stretch of 12 straight rounds from March 28 through May 23.
Yesterday, Heck was named the recipient of the 2021 ANNIKA Award, earning an exemption to the 2022 Evian Championships. By virtue of her national title, Heck earned an exemption to the LPGA's 2021 Marathon Classic. She will also play in the U.S. Women's Open next week, having earned medalist honors at the Marin Country Club qualifier.