Anastasia Hekkonen Crowned SEC Golfer of the Week

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Anastasia Hekkonen, a University of Kentucky women’s golfer coming off her first collegiate championship, has been crowned the Southeastern Conference Golfer of the Week, it was announced by the league Wednesday.

The sophomore led the prestigious Folds of Honor Collegiate at American Dune Golf Club – the church that Jack built – in Grand Havens, Michigan, wire-to-wire last week, earning the first individual title of her college career on a 7-under-par 209. It also marked her career best by 11 shots.

Hekkonen won the tournament by four strokes. She helped UK finish third out of 12 teams, placing ahead of seven teams ranked or receiving votes in the Women’s Golf Coaches Association preseason rankings.

Her first round – a 6-under-par 66 – tied for the fourth-best, 18-hole round in program history. She had zero bogeys and six birdies on the round. It also marked her career best by four shots.

Hekkonen followed that up with a second-round 72 (E) and a final-round 71 (-1).

The Wildcat recorded exclusively pars and birdies until her 27th hole at the event. In fact, she recorded just four bogeys across the 54 holes total. She also had no three-puts across the 54 holes.

Hekkonen became UK’s first individual titleholder since October 2022.

This is her first SEC Golfer of the Week honor.

The UK women’s golf team is back in action early next week, competing at The Johnie Imes Invitational at The Club at Old Hawthorne in Columbia, Missouri, on Monday and Tuesday.