South Florida’s Green, Tulsa’s Stephens Earn 2024 American Women’s Golf Top Awards

IRVING, Texas – South Florida’s Melanie Green and Tulsa Allyn Stephens earned the top two player honors for the season as part of the 2024 American Athletic Conference women’s golf awards that were announced by the league on Tuesday. Tulsa’s Annie Young and SMU’s Lauren Mason were named Coaches of the Year. Both major player awards and American Coach of the Year were voted on by the conference’s 12 women’s golf head coaches.

Green became the first South Florida player to be named American Player of the Year. A WGCA All-American Honorable Mention from a season ago, Green lived up to expectations this season and is the highest ranked American Athletic Conference player in the Clippd rankings at No. 21. In 10 events on the season, she earned two wins, while finishing in the Top 3 seven times. Green posted a 69.4 average score across 30 rounds this season.

Stephens became the first Tulsa player to earn American Freshman of the Year honors. Stephens finished tied for 10^th place at The American Championship at Southern Hills Plantation Club in Brooksville, Fla. with a score of 2-under 214. In 12 events played this season, Houston native earned two Top 3 finishes – 2^nd place at The Sam Golden Invitational in Corinth, Texas and 3^rd place at The Jimmie in Norman, Okla. Across 34 rounds, Stephens held an average score of 72.4.

For a second time in her career, Young has been named The American Coach of the Year, also earning the award in 2021. Young led the Golden Hurricane to a No. 47 national Clippd ranking, including two wins at the Nexus Collegiate in Nassau, New Providence, BH and The Dale McNamara Invitational in Broken Arrow, Okla. The Golden Hurricane finished in second place at The American Championship at 19-under 845. Two Tulsa players finished in the top three at the tournament – Lovisa Gunnar (2^nd place) and Grace Kilcrease (t3rd place).

For a second straight season, Mason has been named The American Coach of the Year. Mason led SMU to back-to-back American Athletic Conference Championships, shooting 21-under 843 at the 2024 American Women’s Golf Championship at Southern Hills Plantation Club. The Mustangs enter the 2024 NCAA Regionals ranked 27th by Clippd. In 11 tournaments, Mason led SMU to four wins and five Top 3 finishes. This marks the first time that The American has had multiple coaches voted as Coach of the Year.

A total of 13 players from five member institutions brought home all-conference accolades. All-conference recognition is awarded to the top 10 players from The American in the Clippd national individual player rankings and to any other players who finished among the top seven and ties at the 2024 American Women’s Golf Championship not among that ranked group. North Texas led the way with four honorees, while SMU and Tulsa both had three honorees, UTSA had two honorees and South Florida had one.

2024 American Athletic Conference Women’s Golf Awards

Golf Player of the Year

Melanie Green, Sr., South Florida

Freshman of the Year

Allyn Stephens, Fr., Tulsa

Coaches of the Year

Lauren Mason, SMU

Annie Young, Tulsa

All-Conference Team

Mason Lewis, So., North Texas

Shreya Pal, Sr., North Texas

Emilie Ricaud, Sr., North Texas