CANTON, Ga. - The Southern Athletic Association Commissioner Stacey Ladew has announced the conference's selection for the NCAA Woman of the Year nomination -- Grace Walker of Centre College.

One of the most prestigious NCAA awards, the Woman of the Year Award was established in 1991 to celebrate the achievements of women in intercollegiate athletics. Now in its 35th year, the NCAA Woman of the Year Award honors graduating female college athletes who have distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.
Per the NCAA, all conference-level nominees are advanced to the Woman of the Year selection committee. The selection committee will choose the top 10 honorees in each division. From among those 30 honorees, the selection committee will determine the three finalists in each division. Finally, the members of the Committee on Women's Athletics will vote from among the top nine finalists to determine the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year. The top 30 honorees will be honored, and the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year winner will be announced this fall.

“Grace embodies everything the NCAA Woman of the Year Award represents,” said SAA Commissioner Stacey LaDew. “Her excellence on the course, in the classroom, and in the community makes her an extraordinary representative of the Southern Athletic Association. We are proud to see her recognized at the national level and look forward to watching her continue to lead and inspire.”

Grace Walker stands as one of the most accomplished athletes in the history of Centre College women’s golf. A two-time NCAA All-American and just the fifth in program history to earn that recognition, Walker’s four-year career left a lasting legacy with the Colonels. Her time at Centre coincided with one of the most dominant eras the program has ever seen, as she helped lead the team to the top of the Southern Athletic Association.

Under her leadership, Centre won the SAA Tournament in 2022, 2023, and 2024—each time breaking the record for margin of victory at the championship. The team narrowly missed a fourth consecutive title in 2025, falling just one stroke short of sweeping her collegiate career with SAA championships.

During Walker’s tenure, the Colonels qualified for the NCAA Tournament three times, earning finishes of 11th (2022), 10th (2023), and 14th (2024). She also competed individually at nationals during her senior season in 2024–25.

Her individual accolades are just as impressive. In addition to her two All-America honors, Walker was a four-time WGCA All-Region selection and made the All-SAA First Team three times. Twice she ended the season ranked among the nation’s top 10 in scoring average, according to Golfstat.

Walker’s achievements extended beyond the golf course. She graduated with a 3.97 GPA, earning a degree in Economics and Finance. Her academic honors include being a four-time WGCA All-America Scholar and a two-time CSC Academic All-District selection.

Outside of athletics and academics, Walker was a vibrant part of the Centre community. A four-year member of Kappa Delta, she served as a budget board member and panhellenic delegate, regularly volunteering in Danville and Lexington. From 2022 to 2024, she was also a member of Centre’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Her commitment to service included supporting Prevent Child Abuse America through fundraising efforts and volunteering alongside her teammates at the Kentucky Golf Show.

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