Northwestern University Athletics
Dianna Lee Wins 2023 Big Ten Freshman Of The Year
4/26/2023 10:13:00 AM | Women's Golf
San Diego native becomes seventh Wildcats rookie to earn the honor
EVANSTON, Illinois -- Dianna Lee has been named the 2023 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, the Conference announced Wednesday. The San Diego native is the seventh Wildcats golfer to earn the award, including three in the last four years.
After making her collegiate debut in the fall, Lee took her game to another level during the spring season. She returned from the winter break with an eighth-place result at the UCF Challenge, during which she carded a 10-under 206, the third-best 54-hole score in Northwestern history. She followed that with a T10 at the Moon Golf Invitational, and then helped lead the 'Cats to back-to-back tournament titles with a T4 at the PING/ASU Invitational and a career-best runner-up result at the Silverado Showdown.
She is the third Big Ten Freshman of the Year currently on the Wildcats roster - joining Lauryn Nguyen (2022) and Irene Kim (2020) - and the seventh in a program history, a list that includes Stephanie Lau (2016), Hannah Kim (2014), Kaitlin Park (2013) and Alice Kim (2004).
Lee's award was just one of a bevy of Conference honors for the 'Cats on Wednesday, as she was joined on the All-Big Ten First Team by Nguyen, Jieni Li and Kelly Sim, and Emily Fletcher took home the fifth Big Ten Coach of the Year award of her decorated career.
The Wildcats will make their 13th consecutive NCAA postseason appearance when they tee up the Palm Beach Gardens Regional on May 8.
With four Top-10s in her last six tournaments, ???????????? ?????? is the 2023 @bigten Women's Golf Freshman of the Year. ??#GoCats | @WGCAGOLF pic.twitter.com/akLKmgcOGS
— Northwestern Golf (@NUGolf_Live) April 26, 2023
After making her collegiate debut in the fall, Lee took her game to another level during the spring season. She returned from the winter break with an eighth-place result at the UCF Challenge, during which she carded a 10-under 206, the third-best 54-hole score in Northwestern history. She followed that with a T10 at the Moon Golf Invitational, and then helped lead the 'Cats to back-to-back tournament titles with a T4 at the PING/ASU Invitational and a career-best runner-up result at the Silverado Showdown.
She is the third Big Ten Freshman of the Year currently on the Wildcats roster - joining Lauryn Nguyen (2022) and Irene Kim (2020) - and the seventh in a program history, a list that includes Stephanie Lau (2016), Hannah Kim (2014), Kaitlin Park (2013) and Alice Kim (2004).
Lee's award was just one of a bevy of Conference honors for the 'Cats on Wednesday, as she was joined on the All-Big Ten First Team by Nguyen, Jieni Li and Kelly Sim, and Emily Fletcher took home the fifth Big Ten Coach of the Year award of her decorated career.
?????? ???????????????? to @NUGolf_Live's Dianna Lee - the #B1GWGolf Freshman of the Year! pic.twitter.com/xLInkGKPEb
— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) April 26, 2023
The Wildcats will make their 13th consecutive NCAA postseason appearance when they tee up the Palm Beach Gardens Regional on May 8.
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