Repeat Honda Sport Honor – Stanford University Athletics

STANFORD, California – Rose Zhang was named Honda Sport Award winner for golf for the second year in a row, Chris Voelz, executive director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA), announced today.

Presented annually for the past 47 years by the CWSA to the top female athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports, the Honda Sport Award represents “the best of the best in college sports.” The sports award winner will be a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year award and the prestigious 2023 Honda Cup, which will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network on June 26 at 5:30 p.m. PT.

Zhang was selected by a vote of administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Golf finalists included Jenny Bae (Georgia), Ingrid Lindblad (LSU) and Julia Lopez Ramirez (Mississippi State).

Zhang, who was also a 2022 Honda Class winner for golf, recently put the finishing touches to what is arguably the most successful amateur career in collegiate golf history during two dynamic seasons (2022-23) at The Farm.

“I am honored to be named the winner of the Honda Sport Award for Golf for the second year in a row,” said Zhang. “My time at Stanford was very special and I want to dedicate this award to my teammates and coaches who have helped me every step of the way. Congratulations also to all the winners from the other 11 sports who all achieved something.” I’ve seen incredible things this year and it’s really an honor to be mentioned alongside each and every one of them. A special thank you to my family and to those who have supported me and made this year special.”

“I couldn’t think of a more worthy recipient than Rose,” he said Anne Walker, Stanford’s Margot and Mitch Milias, director of women’s golf. “It’s rare in a sport to see history and this year Rose made history on multiple occasions. She is being honored as the most decorated female collegiate golfer of all time and that is a remarkable achievement.”

A two-time NCAA singles champion — the first woman to accomplish the feat — Zhang twice set the NCAA single-season average record, averaging a 68.81 season two, beating the freshman average of 69.68.

Not only did Zhang finish her career as a two-time ANNIKA honoree, but she 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 presented with an average of 69.24 in 62 career rounds also set the NCAA career scoring average record. Zhang is also a two-time Golfweek Player of the Year award winner.

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 overall two-time honorees. However, Zhang’s record of wins, awards and goal records stands out compared to her predecessors.

In just 20 collegiate events over her two seasons, Zhang racked up a school-record 12 wins, equaling Arizona’s Lorena Ochoa (2001-03) for the most wins in conference women’s golf history. Only Phil Mickelson of Arizona State achieved more, claiming 16 titles from 1988 to 1992.

As a sophomore in 2023, Zhang won a staggering 8 out of 10 events, becoming only the fourth woman to weather the postseason with record-breaking Pac-12 and NCAA regional titles and an unprecedented NCAA title defense. With eight individual wins in a season, Zhang had the most wins in women’s collegiate golf history and tied for the most wins in school history with Tiger Woods (1995-96).

The standout former Cardinal player played her last collegiate match on May 23, announced her decision to turn pro on May 26, and clinched first on June 4 in a two-hole sudden death playoff Mizuho Americas Open title, which marked one of the most historic moments in the sport while also becoming the first player to win her LPGA debut since Beverly Hanson in 1951.

In a bout between former NCAA and Augusta champions, Zhang defeated fellow American Jennifer Kupcho in a two-hole sudden death playoff. Zhang finished her first tournament with a total of 279 (-9) and managed rounds of 70-69-66-74.

With the win, Zhang automatically earned tour membership, becoming the fourth sponsor invited to win the LPGA Tour since 2003 and the first since Lydia Ko in 2013.

As of April 19, Zhang has had 136 consecutive weeks as the world’s leading amateur golfer, surpassing the previous record of 135 set by Republic of Ireland’s Leona Maguire in 2018. Zhang also won the 2023 Augusta National Women’s Amateur, defeating Jenny Bae of Georgia on the second hole of a sudden death playoff. Zhang also won the US Girls Junior and US Women’s Amateur during her illustrious amateur career.

Zhang plans to remain enrolled at Stanford University and continue her communications studies while training at the world-class Siebel Varsity Golf Training Complex.

The CWSA, in its 47th year, has recognized the nation’s top NCAA athletes for their outstanding athletic ability, leadership, academic excellence and dedication to community service. Since its partnership began in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to awardee and nominee universities to support women’s athletics programs.

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