California, United States: In-form Malaysian amateur Mirabel Ting has added another feather to her much-decorated cap as the 2025 recipient of the ANNIKA Award presented by Stifel, presented annually to the leading female golfer on the US collegiate circuit.

A key member of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation team that defeated Europe at this year’s Patsy Hankins Trophy, Ting enters the record books as the first golfer from the Asia-Pacific region to receive the prestigious accolade since its inception in 2014.

The Florida State University junior received the award during the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Women's Golf Championship at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in California, where she finished runner-up.

The award earns Ting a coveted start at this year’s Amundi Evian Championship in France, where she will be joined in her Major debut by fellow Malaysian and 2025 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific champion Jeneath Wong.

Ting has enjoyed a standout collegiate season with five individual victories, which have propelled the 19-year-old to second spot in the World Amateur Golf Ranking behind Florida State team-mate Lottie Woad.

Hailing from the East Malaysian state of Sarawak, Ting was named the 2025 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Golfer of the Year after leading her team to their first ACC Championship last month. She is also a finalist for the Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) Player of the Year award.

During the 2024 Maybank Championship at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club, Ting finished as leading Malaysian in tied 12th position, upstaging many of the world's leading female professional golfers.

Named after Swedish legend and 72-time LPGA Tour winner Annika Sorenstam, the ANNIKA Award was created in partnership with the Haskins Commission to acknowledge the top female golfer on the US collegiate circuit at the end of each season. It is presented annually to the top female NCAA Division I golfer, as voted upon by players, coaches and members of the golf media. 

The previous winners of the award are Ingrid Lindblad (Sweden – 2024), Rose Zhang (US – 2022, 2023), Rachel Heck (US – 2021), Natalie Srinivasan (US – 2020), Maria Fassi (Mexico – 2018, 2019), Leona Maguire (Ireland – 2015, 2017), Bronte Law (England – 2016) and Alison Lee (US – 2014).

The award also earned Ting two points in the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP) standings, giving her a total of seven points. Introduced this season, the LEAP programme provides top amateur female golfers with a new path to LPGA Tour membership. Those who accumulate a minimum of 20 points within the set criteria framework in a given year and the previous three calendar years will earn exempt Priority List status on the LPGA Tour, provided they also meet all LPGA Tour Membership requirements.