Alabama’s Lauren Stephenson Named Golfweek Player of the Year

Alabama’s Lauren Stephenson is the 2017-18 Golfweek Player of the Year for women’s collegiate golf, the magazine announced this week. Stephenson is the first Alabama player to receive the honor in the 20-year history of the award.

The honor is the second national award for the Lexington, S.C., native. In May, she won the Golfstat Cup, presented annually to the women’s collegiate golfer with the best scoring average. Stephenson’s 69.76 average is a school record and the lowest in the 20-year history of the award. The Lexington, S.C., native tied for seventh at the NCAA Championships and was a member of the U.S. squad that won the Curtis Cup this past weekend.

“The honors keep pouring in for Lauren,” Alabama head coach Mic Potter said. “And they are well deserved! She has put together one of the most historic seasons in college golf in terms of consistency, and it is great that Golfweek has recognized that.”

Stephenson and Alabama sophomore Kristen Gillman were also named First Team All-Americans by Golfweek while junior Cheyenne Knight was a second-team selection. The recognition is the second for all three this year. The Women’s Golf Coaches Association tabbed the trio First Team All-Americans last month.

Gillman finished second to Stephenson for the Tide this season with a 70.55 scoring average and was 39-under par in 11 tournaments in 2017-18. The Austin, Texas, native was also a member of the U.S. Curtis Cup squad and finished as the No. 3 amateur at the U.S. Women’s open earlier this month.

Knight, who announced earlier this month that she was beginning her professional career, was a three-time All-American and All-Southeastern Conference selection in her three seasons in Tuscaloosa. The Aledo, Texas, native was the Women’s Golf Coaches Association Freshman of the Year in 2015-16 and the SEC Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2016-17. She ended her UA tenure with a 71.54 scoring average, which ranks third in school history.