Virginia Golfer November / December 2023 | Page 17

023

of the YEAR

VSGA WOMEN ’ S GOLFER OF THE YEAR

Melanie Walker

HOME CLUB : Springfield Golf & Country Club
Personal highlight : It was a goal of mine for a while to be rewarded with an SEC Player of the Week Award . So that was definitely a highlight . This ( VSGA Women ’ s GOY ) is probably a close second . For both of them though , it was out of my control , so I tried not to focus on them too much . Just a product of hard work . I also had a goal of qualifying for the U . S . Women ’ s Am the last three years , so it is nice to get that accomplished too .
Golf goals for 2024 : Qualifying with my team for the NCAA championships and making it to match play at the Southeastern Conference tournament . Winning a tournament individually . I have mastered the art of being runnerup but would love to close it out and get back in the winner ’ s circle .
Best club in your bag : Right now , it ’ s my putter .
Must play course you haven ’ t played and / or a “ dream ” destination golf trip ? I would love to play the Old Course at St . Andrews or really anything in Europe . My teammates really hype up the golf across the pond !
What is a fun fact no one knows about you ? My favorite TV show is the “ The Big Bang Theory .” I think I relate to the characters a little too much .
2023 HIGHLIGHTS :
• VSGA Women ’ s Four-Ball champion ( partner Raquel Walker )
• VSGA Women ’ s Amateur runner-up
• 3rd in Donna Andrews Invitational
• First University of Missouri golfer ( either gender ) to be named SEC Golfer of the Week
• No . 1 in VSGA Women ’ s Player Rankings
• Qualified for U . S . Women ’ s Amateur
• Quarterfinalist in U . S . Women ’ s Amateur Four-Ball ( partner Sydney Hackett )
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