The ANNIKA Award presented by Stifel has announced its 2026 Spring Watch List, highlighting 20 of the nation’s top Division I women’s collegiate golfers as the postseason approaches. Named for World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sörenstam, the award has become one of the sport’s defining individual honors—recognizing the player who has separated herself across the full college season.
Key dates for the 2026 ANNIKA Award
- May 15, 2026: Ten finalists announced; voting opens
- Monday, May 25, 2026: Voting closes at the conclusion of the stroke play portion of the NCAA Championships
What the winner earns
Beyond the trophy, the ANNIKA Award winner receives a major championship opportunity: an exemption into The Evian Championship. The winner also earns two points in the LPGA’s Elite Amateur Program, adding a meaningful step on the pathway to LPGA Tour membership.
About the ANNIKA Award
First awarded in 2014, the ANNIKA Award is presented annually to the top female Division I collegiate golfer, with the winner selected by players, coaches, and members of the college golf media. The award was created in partnership with the Haskins Foundation and serves as the women’s counterpart to the Haskins Award presented by Stifel, which honors the top male Division I golfer. In 2025, Mirabel Ting (Florida State) became the 12th recipient of the ANNIKA Award.
Full 2026 ANNIKA Award Spring Watch List
(Listed alphabetically)
- Vanessa Borovilos, Texas A&M
- Kylee Choi, Pepperdine
- Anna Davis, Auburn
- Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio, Texas A&M
- Megha Ganne, Stanford
- Veronika Kedronova, Kent State
- Jasmine Koo, USC
- Marie Madsen, North Carolina State
- Maria Jose Marin, Arkansas
- Farah O’Keefe, Texas
- Meja Ortengren, Stanford
- Catherine Park, USC
- Macy Pate, Wake Forest
- Andrea Revuelta, Stanford
- Patience Rhodes, Arizona State
- Kiara Romero, Oregon
- Paula Martin Sampedro, Stanford
- Reagan Zibilski, Arkansas
- Avery Weed, Mississippi State
- Kelly Xu, Stanford
What’s next
With conference championships and NCAA postseason play ahead, the watch list is a snapshot—not a final verdict. The finalists will be named on May 15, with voting continuing through the NCAA Championship stroke-play finish on May 25. Expect the next two months to bring plenty of movement as teams chase titles and players chase the game’s biggest collegiate individual prize.
