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Malia Nam Named Pac-12 Freshman Of The Year
June 04, 2019 | Women's Golf, Features
Justin Silverstein Named Pac-12 Co-Coach Of The Year
Malia Nam, an All-American second teamer who posted eight top 12 finishes this season while helping USC win seven tournaments including conference and NCAA regional titles, has been named the 2019 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.
In addition, USC first-year head coach Justin Silverstein, the 2019 NCAA West Region Coach of the Year, was also tabbed the Pac-12 Co-Coach of the Year along with Arizona's Laura Ianello.
Nam, also an All-Pac-12 first teamer, was third on the team in stroke average at 72.57. She had nine top 17 finishes and four in the top 7 while posting a team-high-tying seven rounds in the 60s, tied for fifth-most on USC's all-time season chart.
She is USC's fifth conference Freshman/Newcomer of the Year and its first since Annie Park won it in 2013. The other Trojans to win it included Sophia Popov (2011), Jennifer Song (2009) and Lizette Salas (2010).
"Malia had an incredible year for our team and she played a monster part in each of our seven wins this season," Silverstein said. "Her presence in our lineup provided us with a bunch of stability which helped us be able to compete in every tournament we played this season.
"For a freshman to come in and end up ranked 12th in Golfweek and 13th in Golfstat is something really special and we cannot wait to see what else Malia is able to do in her time at USC."
Nam almost won her debut collegiate event, taking second at 12-under 204 (69-66-69) at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate. Nam's 12-under tied her for the second-most under par performance in a 54-hole event in school history, one off the school mark on a 72-par course, and she is just one of five Trojans to post a 204 or lower.
Nam opened her career with four straight rounds in the 60s and started her career with five straight top 12 finishes, including a tie for third in the lone East Lake Cup round and a 10th at 1-under 212 (67-74-71) at the Stanford Intercollegiate. Nam tied for second at the Silverado Showdown at par 216 (71-75-70) and tied for seventh in USC's win at the Clover Cup at 5-over 221 (73-74-74).
She tied for ninth at the NCAA Cle Elum Regional at 4-under 212 (73-70-69) and won her NCAA Championships match play match against Arizona's Yusang Hou, 3&2.
Silverstein hit the ground running in his first year at the helm, leading the Trojans to three fall victories, including the program's third title at the East Lake Cup. USC maintained its momentum in the spring with four more wins, including a victory at the PING/ASU Invitational leading up to dominant conference and regional victories en route to the top seed in the 2019 NCAA Championships.
The Trojans' seven wins this season are the most ever under an NCAA Division I women's golf head coach in their debut season. The seven victories are tied for second on USC's season wins list.
At nationals, USC finished third in stroke play – the Trojans finished third or better in every stroke play event this season – before bowing out in the NCAA Championships match play quarterfinals to defending champion Arizona.
Silverstein's golfers received numerous honors, highlighted by five All-American selections (tying the most in school history). Sophomore Jennifer Chang was a first-team pick, sophomore Gabriela Ruffels and Nam were second teamers while sophomores Alyaa Abdulghany and Amelia Garvey were honorable mention.
Six Trojans earned All-Pac-12 honors, including four first-teamers in Chang, Garvey, Ruffels and Nam and honorable mention picks Abdulghany and junior Allisen Corpuz.
In addition, USC first-year head coach Justin Silverstein, the 2019 NCAA West Region Coach of the Year, was also tabbed the Pac-12 Co-Coach of the Year along with Arizona's Laura Ianello.
Nam, also an All-Pac-12 first teamer, was third on the team in stroke average at 72.57. She had nine top 17 finishes and four in the top 7 while posting a team-high-tying seven rounds in the 60s, tied for fifth-most on USC's all-time season chart.
She is USC's fifth conference Freshman/Newcomer of the Year and its first since Annie Park won it in 2013. The other Trojans to win it included Sophia Popov (2011), Jennifer Song (2009) and Lizette Salas (2010).
"Malia had an incredible year for our team and she played a monster part in each of our seven wins this season," Silverstein said. "Her presence in our lineup provided us with a bunch of stability which helped us be able to compete in every tournament we played this season.
"For a freshman to come in and end up ranked 12th in Golfweek and 13th in Golfstat is something really special and we cannot wait to see what else Malia is able to do in her time at USC."
Nam almost won her debut collegiate event, taking second at 12-under 204 (69-66-69) at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate. Nam's 12-under tied her for the second-most under par performance in a 54-hole event in school history, one off the school mark on a 72-par course, and she is just one of five Trojans to post a 204 or lower.
Nam opened her career with four straight rounds in the 60s and started her career with five straight top 12 finishes, including a tie for third in the lone East Lake Cup round and a 10th at 1-under 212 (67-74-71) at the Stanford Intercollegiate. Nam tied for second at the Silverado Showdown at par 216 (71-75-70) and tied for seventh in USC's win at the Clover Cup at 5-over 221 (73-74-74).
She tied for ninth at the NCAA Cle Elum Regional at 4-under 212 (73-70-69) and won her NCAA Championships match play match against Arizona's Yusang Hou, 3&2.
Silverstein hit the ground running in his first year at the helm, leading the Trojans to three fall victories, including the program's third title at the East Lake Cup. USC maintained its momentum in the spring with four more wins, including a victory at the PING/ASU Invitational leading up to dominant conference and regional victories en route to the top seed in the 2019 NCAA Championships.
The Trojans' seven wins this season are the most ever under an NCAA Division I women's golf head coach in their debut season. The seven victories are tied for second on USC's season wins list.
At nationals, USC finished third in stroke play – the Trojans finished third or better in every stroke play event this season – before bowing out in the NCAA Championships match play quarterfinals to defending champion Arizona.
Silverstein's golfers received numerous honors, highlighted by five All-American selections (tying the most in school history). Sophomore Jennifer Chang was a first-team pick, sophomore Gabriela Ruffels and Nam were second teamers while sophomores Alyaa Abdulghany and Amelia Garvey were honorable mention.
Six Trojans earned All-Pac-12 honors, including four first-teamers in Chang, Garvey, Ruffels and Nam and honorable mention picks Abdulghany and junior Allisen Corpuz.
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