USC’s Park, Shoemaker and Koo Named to ANNIKA Award Watch List

Women’s Golf | September 04, 2024

LOS ANGELES – Junior Catherine Park, sophomore Bailey Shoemaker and freshman Jasmine Koo join a cast of 25 golfers from around the country as they were named to the ANNIKA Award’s Fall Watch List; the Haskins Foundation announced Wednesday, Sept. 4. 

The ANNIKA Award is distributed annually to the best player in women’s golf. Park was a finalist for the award last season and was on the watch list at the end of the fall season and to start the spring. This is Shoemaker and Koo’s first time on the watch list. 

Park, Shoemaker, and Koo will be at the front of the lineup as they each head into the season with high expectations. All three players were recently named to the preseason All-American lists for Golfweek and the Golf Channel. Koo is ranked No. 6, Park is No. 7 and Shoemaker is No. 70 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. 

Park comes into the season as the clear front runner on the squad. The junior posted a historic season for the Women of Troy, as she was an ANNIKA Award Finalist and a WGCA/Golfweek First Team All-American. Park heads into her junior year with multiple team records: single-season stroke average (70.94) and rounds at par or better (23). The reigning Pac-12 Champion will get her chance to compete in a new environment as she aims for the Big Ten title this season. 

Koo is among the best players heading into the collegiate landscape. Before coming to USC, Koo posted three wins and 13 top ten finishes. The Torrance native has been a tear this summer, including posting the best Amateur finish, 13th place, at the LPGA’s Chevron Championship. Koo is set to add to her trophy case as she is ranked No. 1 in the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) standings for player of the year.

Shoemaker will play a pivotal role in the success of USC’s squad, just as she did last season. The sophomore helped lead the Women of Troy to the Final Four after making the final putt to beat Clemson in the Quarterfinals. Shoemaker’s freshman year was highlighted by a second-place finish at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Shoemaker posted a bogey-free 66 in the final round and set a new single-round record for the tournament. The sophomore on the collegiate stage posted a 72.57 stroke average and had a second-place finish at the NCAA East Lansing Regional. 

The…