The Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) has created The Juli Inkster Senior Award, a new award to be given out yearly beginning with the 2019-20 school year. The creation of the award, named after the former Spartan, was announced Tuesday at the annual college golf coaches convention in Las Vegas.
The Juli Inkster Senior Award will be given annually by the WGCA to recognize the highest ranked women's collegiate golfer in her final year of NCAA eligibility. The award will be presented at the completion of the school year and will be award to the top Division I, II and III players. The recipient must be academically eligible per NCAA rules and played a minimum of 15 round (Division I) or 12 round (Division II and II) during the school year. Both Golfstat and Golfweek Sagarin Ranking will be incorporated to determine the average ranking.
"This is a great honor to have this award named after me," Inkster said. "It's a privilege to be able to play college golf at all levels. To have a player be honored for her commitment to the school, coaches and her teammates is what this award is about."
Inkster was a three-time All-American at San José State and won the 1982 Broderick Award. She won three U.S. Women's Amateurs from 1980-92, the first woman to do so since 1934. Inkster turned professional in 1983 and recorded 31 LPGA wins and seven major championship victories.
The first awards will be presented after the completion of the 2019-20 golf season. The Division I women's golf recipient will receive a sponsor exemption into the next Cambia Portland Classic and will have the opportunity to spend time with Juli during a two-day mentorship retreat.
