Natalie Srinivasan named inaugural Juli Inkster Senior Award winner

Natalie Srinivasan keeps adding to her postseason awards tally, most recently with the Julie Inkster Award.

The last leg of Natalie Srinivasan’s postseason awards sweep is perhaps the most telling of all. The Spartanburg, South Carolina, player found a perfect fit at Furman four years ago and has helped to bring the Paladins back to the top of college golf. For that commitment, Srinivasan has been named the first recipient of the Juli Inkster Award Presented by WorkDay.

The award, created this year, recognizes the highest ranked women’s collegiate golfer in her final year of NCAA eligibility. It rewards a college golfer who honors her commitment to her college team, as Srinivasan has.

Srinivasan already has Symetra Tour status lined up for the rest of the year. The Inkster Award comes with an exemption into the next Cambia Portland Classic (currently scheduled for Sept. 17-20). She will also have the opportunity to spend time with Inkster during a two-day mentorship retreat.

With so much up in the air thanks to COVID-19, tournament exemptions are particularly important as Srinivasan launches her pro career. For winning the ANNIKA Award, she receiving an exemption into the Evian Championship, an LPGA major.

Related: Natalie Srinivasan brings Furman to the forefront as ANNIKA Award winner

Five players (three of whom were seniors) turned professional at the halfway point of the season after securing either LPGA status or Symetra Tour status at the LPGA Q-Series in November. Srinivasan stayed in Greenville. She won three times in the six starts she made during this pandemic-shortened season.

Srinivasan’s name continues to go down with some of the game’s greats, from Sorenstam and now to Inkster. Her game grew exponentially at Furman, a place that also churned out players like Betsy King, Beth Daniel and Dottie Pepper.

Head coach Jeff Hull said Srinivasan wasn’t the kind of outgoing player who would loudly rally the troops, but her example was invaluable for her teammates.

“She works on the parts of her game that she needs to work on,” Hull said. “She always has a plan for practice and for tournaments. She plays like a professional.”

Hull said her interaction with teammates was often one-on-one. Srinivasan made it clear she wanted to help and be a resource.

Srinivasan was the top player in Golfstat’s rankings when the season ended and ranked No. 4 by Golfweek.

The Juli Inkster Senior Award was also presented at the NCAA Division II and III levels. Tampa’s Kiira Riihijarvi was the Division II recipient while Alyssa Akiyama of Carleton won the Division III award.

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