KUCHING: Miri-born golfer Mirabel Ting has made history, becoming the first Asian to win the prestigious ANNIKA Award on Tuesday (May 20) – just a day after finishing runner-up at the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship in California.
The 21-year-old’s stellar season and rising global reputation were further validated by this award, which is given annually to the top female collegiate golfer in the U.S.
Ting, currently ranked No. 2 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), now finds herself in the company of future LPGA stars.
In a candid interview with the Golf Channel, the trailblazer reflected on the honour:
“Everyone (named) on this trophy has done so well on the LPGA Tour. I hope I can follow in their footsteps one day.”
The ANNIKA Award, named after 72-time LPGA winner Annika Sörenstam, is the women’s equivalent of the Haskins Award for men. Past winners include the likes of Rose Zhang, Maria Fassi, and Leona Maguire — names that now share space with Ting’s on the historic list.
It’s been a remarkable year for the Florida State University junior. She’s racked up five individual wins and was recently named the 2025 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Golfer of the Year after leading her team to its first-ever ACC Championship.
And with her eyes now set on the 2025 Amundi Evian Championship in July, the best may still be ahead on her journey to WGAR rank no. 1.
