Monday morning at Omni La Costa was a day of celebration as Annika Sorenstam awarded LSU senior Ingrid Lindblad the prestigious Annika Award. This accolade, recognizing the top national female collegiate player of the year, was a fitting end to Lindblad’s remarkable college golf career.
Lindblad, a fifth-year senior and the first Swede to receive the Annika Award, has been a finalist for this honor five times out of its ten-year existence. ‘I’m so happy,’ Lindblad expressed. ‘I’ve worked so hard for this; this is one of the reasons I came back for my fifth year, so it feels good to close my college career with this award.’
Arriving at La Costa with 15 career victories, including the 2022 SEC individual title, and top 10 finishes in 42 of her 47 career starts, Lindblad had a season to remember. She won four times this year and hadn’t placed outside the top 5 heading into the nationals. However, the national championship week was tough for Lindblad; she shot 9-over 81 in Saturday’s second round and followed it with a third-round 75, placing her outside the top 100. It was a shocking performance for the world’s top-ranked amateur, who hadn’t scored worse than 72 all season.
Despite the rough start, Lindblad found her rhythm in her final nine holes of Round 3. After breaking down in tears several times, she received some simple yet effective advice from her assistant coach, Alexis Rather: ‘Just whack the ball!’ Motivated, Lindblad wrote ‘Whack it!’ on a piece of scrap paper, attached it to her pushcart, and played her final seven holes in 2 under par.
Although her individual efforts were remarkable, Lindblad couldn’t secure a team victory for LSU. The Tigers, seeded No. 2, were defeated by Oregon, 3-2, in the match play on Tuesday morning. Lindblad, however, won her individual match 4 and 3.
Ingrid Lindblad’s college career might not have ended with a national team championship, but receiving the Annika Award from her idol, Annika Sorenstam, was a memorable consolation. ‘I’ve kind of taken the Annika journey,’ Lindblad said with a smile. Sorenstam, reflecting on Lindblad’s journey, stated, ‘It’s been so exciting to follow her journey. I’m very happy with what she’s done on the course and what she stands for with her character. To now see a Swede on there – there are some wonderful names on this trophy, and they have all gone on to do some great things. I see the same thing for Ingrid.’
As Ingrid Lindblad prepares for her next big leap into professional golf, her college career ends on a high note with the Annika Award – a tribute to her dedication, skill, and the bright future ahead.
