Furman University’s Alice Chen Named Recipient of 2018 Dinah Shore Trophy
All-Southern Conference Team member Chen honored for golf excellence, leadership skills and community service
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., May 19, 2018 – Alice Chen of Furman University has been selected as the recipient of the 2018 Dinah Shore Trophy, cementing her status as one of the top collegiate female players who has made an impact on the golf course through her leadership and also on society through charitable endeavor. (Watch Chen's interview with Golf Channel here).
Administered by the LPGA Foundation, the Dinah Shore Trophy Award recognizes female collegiate golfers who excel in both academics (3.2 on a 4.0 scale) and athletics – playing in at least 50 percent of the team’s scheduled events – while maintaining a 78.00 or less scoring average. In addition, nominees must demonstrate outstanding leadership skills and community service.
A member of the All-Southern Conference Team for the past four years, Chen has captained Furman University's women’s golf team during 2018 and produced an impressive stroke average of 72.6 over her first 23 rounds. She won the 2018 Moon Golf Invitational in Melbourne, Florida and in partnership with Furman teammate Taylor Totland clinched the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-ball Championship in 2017.
Chen was the Southern Conference Women's Golf Freshman of the Year in 2015, the Southern Conference Women's Golf Co-Player of the Year in 2016 and helped the Paladins finish the 2016-17 season with a nationwide ranking of seventh by Golfstat.
Chen has not only been a major contributor to her golf team but is also heavily involved in community engagement. As a leadership member of the Furman Fellowship of Christian Athletes, she has been responsible for planning and preparing large group gatherings and has also worked as a summer camp counselor. She earned the 2018 C. Dan Joyner Outstanding Female Leader Award for being "an effective leader who has positively impacted their sports team as a role model, a resource, a motivator and an encourager."
The Dinah Shore Trophy Award is a joint effort between The LPGA Foundation, Friends of Golf (FOG) organization and the ANA Inspiration - one of the LPGA's five major championships and the largest contributor to the Dinah Shore Scholarship Fund. As part of the Dinah Shore Trophy Award, a $10,000 grant will be awarded to the Furman University women’s golf program.
Former winners of this prestigious award include: Stanford University graduate Casey Danielson (2017), Columbia University’s Jackie Chulya (2016), East Carolina University alum Katie Kirk (2015), University of Arkansas’ Emily Tubert (2014), Michigan State University’s Caroline Powers (2013), North Dakota State alum and current LPGA Tour player Amy Anderson (2012), University of California graduate Pia Halbig (2011), University of Central Florida alum and Epson Tour player Katie Detlefsen (2010), Duke University grad Amanda Blumenherst (2008, 2009), University of Arkansas alumna and 2012 Rolex LPGA Player of the Year Stacy Lewis (2007), and University of South Carolina's Erica Battle (2006).
The LPGA Foundation announced the Dinah Shore Scholarship Fund in March of 1994 in honor of the late Dinah Shore, a Vanderbilt University graduate and an honorary member of the LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame. The Dinah Shore Trophy Award has contributed more than $184,000 to women's collegiate golf programs, including this year.