Fassi moves to top of ANNIKA watch list for top player award

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas junior Maria Fassi moved to the top spot in the ANNIKA Award Watch List presented by 3M in the last release of the standings before the final vote.

On the heels of her come-from-behind win at the NCAA Austin Regional, Fassi jumped up one spot into the lead over UCLA’s Lilia Vu who held the lead for several weeks.

Razorback Dylan Kim is also on the Watch List at No. 14.

Fassi, along with her teammates, is rewriting the Razorback record books this season. She paced No. 3 Arkansas to a program-record seven tournament titles including the first Southeastern Conference and NCAA Regional wins.

As a team, Arkansas has played to 10 top-4 finishes in 10 tournaments (7 wins, 2 runners-up and 1 fourth-place finish).

As an individual, Fassi has won six tournaments and tied for the win but fell in a two-hole playoff at the SEC Championship. She leads the team in stroke average, rounds under par and earned SEC Golfer of Year this season.

Voting for the ANNIKA Award is now open to all Division I student-athletes, coaches and golf communications directors.

Voting will end at the conclusion of the NCAA Championship on May 23. The winner will be announced live on Golf Central on Wednesday, June 6, at 5:30 p.m. CT.

Final ANNIKA Award presented by 3M Watch List:
1. Maria Fassi, Arkansas
2. Lilia Vu, UCLA
3. Patty Tavatanakit, UCLA
4. Lauren Stephenson, Alabama
5. Leona Maguire, Duke
6. Andrea Lee, Stanford
7. Jennifer Kupcho, Wake Forest
8. Jillian Hollis, Georgia
9. Kristen Gillman, Alabama
10. Ainhoa Olarra, South Carolina
11. Olivia Mehaffey, Arizona State
12. Pimnipa Panthong, Kent State
13. Sophia Schubert, Texas
14. Dylan Kim, Arkansas
15. Kaitlyn Papp, Texas