STANFORD, Calif. - Rose Zhang has been named the Honda Sport Award winner for Golf for the second straight year, as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA).
The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 47 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA- sanctioned sports and signifies "the best of the best in collegiate athletics". The winner of the sport award becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2023 Honda Cup, which will be presented on a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 26, at 5:30 pm PT.
Zhang was chosen by a vote of administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Finalists in golf included Jenny Bae (Georgia), Ingrid Lindblad (LSU) and Julia Lopez Ramirez (Mississippi State).
Zhang, who was also the Class of 2022 Honda Award winner for Golf, recently put the finishing touches on arguably the most decorated amateur career in the history of collegiate golf during two dynamic seasons (2022-23) on The Farm.
"I am honored to be named the Honda Sport Award for Golf winner for the second year in a row," Zhang said. "My time at Stanford has been incredibly special, and I want to dedicate this award to my teammates and coaches who helped push me every step of the way. Congratulations to all of the winners from the other 11 sports as well, as they all accomplished amazing things this year and it's truly an honor to be mentioned alongside each and every one of them. Special thanks to my family and to those who have supported me and made this year so special."
"I couldn't think of a more worthy recipient than Rose," said Anne Walker, Stanford's Margot and Mitch Milias Director of Women's Golf. "It's rare in any sport to see history and this year, Rose made history many times over. She will be honored as the most decorated female college golfer of all-time and that's a remarkable achievement."
A two-time NCAA individual champion – the first female to accomplish the feat – Zhang twice set the NCAA single-season scoring average record, with a 68.81 sophomore-season scoring average besting a 69.68 freshman average.
In addition to finishing her career as a two-time ANNIKA Award recipient, Zhang was also a two-time WGCA Golfer of the Year, becoming the first repeat honoree since Duke's Amanda Blumenherst in 2008. A two-time First Team WGCA All-American, Zhang also established the NCAA career scoring average record with a 69.24 average in 62 career rounds. Zhang is also a two-time Golfweek Player of the Year recipient.
A two-time Pac-12 Golfer of the Year, Zhang joined UCLA's Bronte Law (2015-16) as the only repeat conference winner and one of three two-time recipients overall. However, Zhang's resume of wins, awards and scoring records stands out in comparison to her predecessors.
In just 20 collegiate events over her two seasons, Zhang delivered a school-record 12 victories, matching Arizona's Lorena Ochoa (2001-03) for the most in conference women's golf history. Only Arizona State's Phil Mickelson finished with more, claiming 16 titles from 1988-92.
As a sophomore in 2023, Zhang won a staggering 8-of-10 events, becoming only the fourth woman to sweep through the postseason with record-setting Pac-12 and NCAA Regional crowns and an unprecedented NCAA title defense. Zhang's eight single-season wins tied her for the most in women's collegiate golf history and matched Tiger Woods (1995-96) for the most in school history.
The former Cardinal standout played her final collegiate match on May 23, announced her decision to turn pro on May 26 and captured the inaugural Mizuho Americas Open title in a two-hole sudden-death playoff on June 4, delivering one of the most historic moments in the sport while becoming the first player to win her LPGA debut since Beverly Hanson in 1951.
In a battle of former NCAA and Augusta champions, Zhang defeated fellow American Jennifer Kupcho in a two-hole sudden-death playoff. Zhang finished her first tournament at 279 overall (-9), carding rounds of 70-69-66-74.
Zhang earned automatic tour membership with the victory, becoming the fourth sponsor invite to win on the LPGA Tour since 2003 and first since Lydia Ko in 2013.
Back on April 19, Zhang reached 136 consecutive weeks as the world's leading female amateur golfer, surpassing the previous record of 135 set by Leona Maguire of the Republic of Ireland in 2018. Zhang also captured the 2023 Augusta National Women's Amateur, defeating Georgia's Jenny Bae on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff. Zhang also won the U.S. Girls Junior and U.S. Women's Amateur in her illustrious amateur career.
Zhang plans to remain enrolled at Stanford and continue pursuing her degree in communication while training at the world-class Siebel Varsity Golf Training complex.
The CWSA, entering its 47th year, has honored the nation's top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its partnership in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women's athletics programs.
About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility
For more than 60 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. Honda's mission is to create products and services that improve the lives of people while conducting its business in a sustainable manner and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Accordingly, Honda believes in helping people reach their life's potential through its focus on the areas of education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety and community. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.