Workday has named Georgia Senior Jenny Bae as the recipient of its 2023 Inkster Award.
The Inkster award recognizes the top-ranked woman’s Division I college golfer during her final year as a student for the 2022-2023 college golf season.
Bae, who is a senior in her fifth year, finished the golf season ranked fifth in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings for women’s college and fourth in Golfstat.
Bae, as a winner of the 2023 Inkster Award will be granted an exemption to the 2023 Portland Classic, which takes place at Columbia Edgewater Country Club, Portland, Oregon, from August 31-September 3.
Bae also automatically advances to the second phase of LPGA Q School from October 16-20, at Plantation Golf and Country Club, in Venice, Florida.
Bae will join Juli Inkster – the person who is honored with this award – for a two day mentorship retreat. This will take place in Northern California. Workday will donate $50,000 to the Juli Inkster Foundation in order to support Bae as she transitions to a professional golf career. The $50,000 will be used to support Bae in her mentorship retreat and travel expenses.
Inkster was a World Golf Hall-of-Fame Member and LPGA Legend at San Jose State. She was also a three-time All-American. She chose not to become a professional until she completed her four-year college commitment, and won 17 individual titles.
Bae stated in a press release that “Juli is an inspiration, and such a model both on and off course. Her Hall-of-Fame Career speaks for itself.” It is an honour beyond words to receive this award and have Juli as my mentor.
Inkster continued: “Jenny excelled in her senior year on the golf courses, despite the challenges she faced from the pandemic and the global crisis.” This shows not only how she performed on the golf course, but also her passions and goals away from it. She put education first. I am looking forward to Jenny’s mentoring as she moves on in her personal and professional journeys.
Bae finished in 14th place at the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship held at Grayhawk Golf Club, Scottsdale, Arizona. She finished in the top five eight times in 2022-23, including two victories in the Athens Regional and the Illini Invitational, where she recorded the lowest scores ever in Georgia history. She had the lowest stroke average of any Georgia golfer in history, with a season stroke average of 70.75. She was also runner-up in the 2023 Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Rose Zhang beat her on the second playoff hole.
Bae competed in the Nova Mission Inn Resort and Club Championship, Howey-In-The-Hills in Florida, last weekend.
