by By Matt Dowdy
LUBBOCK, Texas – Fresh off opening the 2016-17 season with her second career individual title, Texas Tech junior Gabby Barker (Shoshone-Paiute Tribes) has been named to the initial rankings for the ANNIKA Award which is presented annually to the nation’s top female collegiate golfer.
Barker was one of 15 players from across the country to be named to Golfweek Magazine’s first rankings of the year. She was previously ranked in the top five of the poll during portions of her 2015-16 sophomore campaign.
Barker claimed the Red Raider Invitational individual title to start the season after firing a 2-under 214 on her home course at The Rawls Course. It was the third time during her Lady Raider career where she has won an individual title after topping a talented field at the Betsy Rawls Invitational and Jim West Challenge a year ago.
The performance followed a highly-successful sophomore season where Barker, a native of Caldwell, Idaho, tied the Tech single-season record with a 72.3 stroke average. It tied the previous mark that was set during the 2012-13 campaign by former All-American and current LPGA professional Kim Kaufman.
Barker was included in the initial ANNIKA rankings based off last year’s results as well as her performance early into this season. She is the only Big 12 player represented on the first set of rankings.
The poll will be updated by Golfweek throughout the 2016-17 season. The ANNIKA Award is ultimately selected by a group of college golfers, coaches and members of the golf media.
Barker and the Lady Raiders return to the links in a few weeks for the Jim West Challenge which will be held Oct. 9-10 at the Club at Carlton Woods in Houston.
