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Who's going to win the Annika Award? Breaking down the favorites ahead of NCAA Regionals
TL;DR
The 2026 Annika Award race is highly competitive, with top players in women's college golf vying for the title. Only two events remain for contenders to enhance their chances of winning the national player of the year award.
Key points
- 2026 Annika Award race is highly competitive
- Top players in women's college golf are contenders
- Only two NCAA postseason events remain
- Award honors national player of the year
- Winner decided by golfers, coaches, and media
The race for the 2026 Annika Award may be the closest in the award's history.
With only the NCAA postseason remaining, there's hardly any separation between the best players in women's college golf. Numerous players have had incredible seasons, and now only two events remain for college golf's best to pad their resumes and prove why they deserve to win the national player of the year award.
The Annika Award presented by Stifel honors the player of the year in women’s college golf, as selected by college golfers, coaches and members of the college golf media.
Here's a look at the contenders for the Annika Award, their resumes and more on what they would need to do to win the award later this month.
Favorite for the 2026 Annika Award
Farah O'Keefe
O'Keefe, a junior at Texas, has been college golf's hottest player this spring with three victories. In 10 stroke-play events this year, her worst finish is T-10. In those 10 events, she has lost to only 31 players all season long. O'Keefe may be the leader in the clubhouse when it comes to the Annika Award, but if she can continue her strong form of play at Regionals and the NCAA Championship, she can lock up her biggest award yet.
Maria Jose Marin
Marin, the defending NCAA individual champion, is the second-ranked player in college golf this year and has one win at the Clemson Invitational. Marin, who won the Augusta National Women's Amateur last month, only finished outside of the top 10 once, a T-12 at SECs. The junior at Arkansas' consistency has been remarkable, but trailing O'Keefe by two wins (amateur wins don't count toward Annika criteria) she may need to win out to claim the Annika Award.
Kiara Romero
Romero, a junior at Oregon, is the world's No. 1 amateur and she has played like it a majority of the year. She didn't defend her Big 10 individual title, choosing to play in the LPGA's Chevron instead, but Romero has a pair of wins this season and has finished third or better in five of her six stroke-play events. With not as many starts as O'Keefe or Marin, Romero will need to finish strong with more consistency (or more wins) down the stretch to claim her first Annika Award.
Paula Martin Sampedro
Q&A
Who are the favorites for the 2026 Annika Award?
The article discusses various top players in women's college golf who are in contention for the 2026 Annika Award.
What is the Annika Award and who decides the winner?
The Annika Award honors the national player of the year in women's college golf, as selected by college golfers, coaches, and media members.
How many events are left before the Annika Award is decided?
There are only two events remaining in the NCAA postseason before the Annika Award winner is determined.
What do players need to do to win the Annika Award?
Players need to perform exceptionally in the final two events to enhance their resumes and prove their worthiness for the Annika Award.