Melanie Walker Named Virginia Golfer of the Year

Making an immediate impact with the Missouri women’s golf program, sophomore Melanie Walker added another honor to her resume by being named the Virginia Sports Golf Association Women’s Golfer of the Year.

With the Tigers, Walker had one of the best freshman seasons in school history during the 2022-23 campaign, posting a 74.54 stroke average that ranks third in the MU record book by a rookie. She has raised her game another level as a sophomore, however.

During the 2023-24 campaign, Walker owns a 72.00 stroke average and has led the team in scoring in three of MU’s four fall events. She owns a pair of top-five finishes this season and after her performance at the Johnie Imes Invitational, Walker became the first student-athlete in Mizzou history to collect SEC Women’s Golfer of the Week accolades.

Walker added in an outstanding summer to earn the accolade by the VSGA. She collected stroke-play medalist honors at the 98th VSGA Women’s Amateur before finishing as runner-up during the match-play championship. The Burke, Virginia, native also won a bid to the 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship – qualifying by placing third at the Chagrin Valley Country Club in Ohio. At her first appearance at the championship in California, Walker collected a two-round total of 145 (71-74) to place 65th of 156 golfers at the event.

Walker and the Tigers return to action in February, competing at The Beach Invitational in California.