University Of Alabama's Brooke Pancake Receives Honda Sports Award For Golf

News provided by

Jun 04, 2012, 02:47 ET

LOS ANGELES, June 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Brooke Pancake, who sank a title-clinching putt to propel her University of Alabama team to its first NCAA championship, has been named the Honda Sports Award recipient for golf. Pancake's selection by the Collegiate Women Sports Awards program recognizes her as the country's top female athlete in her sport.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111209/LA20211LOGO)

Pancake's four-foot putt at the 18th hole on the final day of play at the Vanderbilt Legends Club gave the Crimson Tide a dramatic one-stroke victory over the University of Southern California. The native of Chattanooga, Tenn., used her knowledge of the course, which she first played with her grandfather at the age of 10, to score a 2-under-par 286 for the four rounds and finish second individually in the collegiate championships.

"I am ecstatic about the Honda Award," said Pancake, who joined the U.S. team to compete in the Curtis Cup at the Nairn Golf Club in Scotland shortly after winning the championship. "I honestly couldn't ask for a better way to cap off my collegiate career. I have been on cloud nine and hope to keep the joy and success going here in Scotland. I am honored to know I have left the university on such a high and am excited to see the future success of the program."

As a sophomore Pancake helped Alabama attain its first SEC championship, and as a junior she led the team to its first NCAA regional title. An academic standout, the three-time All-American this year received the Paul W. Bryant Award, presented to the school's top male and female student-athletes (football player Barrett Jones was the other recipient). Pancake, who graduated with a 4.0 in marketing, also won the 2011 Edith Cummings Munson Award for the All-American with the highest grade-point average and was selected for the NCAA Elite 88 Award at the 2010 NCAA championships as the player with the highest GPA. Additionally, she is a three-time recipient of the SEC's Scholar-Athlete of the Year in women's golf. Pancake attended Baylor High School in Chattanooga, winning the state high school championship four years in a row. At the age of 17 she became the youngest inductee in the Tennessee women's Golf Hall of Fame.

The Honda Sports Award is presented annually to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports. As a Honda prize recipient, Pancake becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious Honda Cup. She was chosen by a vote of coaches from 1,000 NCAA member schools. Finalists included Lindy Duncan of Duke University, Chirapat Jao-Javanil of Oklahoma University, and Emily Tubert of the University of Arkansas. Joining Pancake on the current roster of 2012 Honda Sports Award winners are Sheila Reid of Villanova University (Cross Country), Megan Frazer of the University of Maryland (Field Hockey), Teresa Noyola of Stanford University (Soccer), Alex Jupiter of the University of Southern California (Volleyball), Caitlin Leverenz of the University of California, Berkeley (Swimming & Diving), Brittney Griner of Baylor University (Basketball), Kytra Hunter of the University of Florida (Gymnastics), and 2012 Honda Inspiration Award Winner, Elena Delle Donne of the University of Delaware (Basketball).