NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion women's golfer Jana Melichova has been named Golfer of the Year in the Virginia All-State University Division Women's Golf Awards, as voted on by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID). Sophomore Leah Onosato also joined Melichova on the first team All-State.
VaSID Golfer of the Year, Melichova finished the season ranked 151st in the country individually according to Golfstat. Named Conference USA Golfer of the Week twice, Melichova led the team with a 71.6 stroke average, which also ranks 31st in the nation in average score. The sophomore earned her first collegiate victory at the 2020 Maryb S. Kauth Invitational with a three-under 213. She posted two top-5 finishes in the fall at the Lady Paladin Invitational and the Palmetto Intercollegiate. Melichova posted a season-low 69 three times in the fall and twice in the spring. She finished as runner-up at the Lady Paladin Invitational and a third-place finish at the Palmetto Intercollegiate. The Czech Republic native led ODU in all but one event in 2019-20 and recorded 12 rounds of par or better through six events. According to Golfstat, Melichova closed out 2020 ranked 32nd in the nation in the versus par category and 38th in par 3 scoring, averaging 3.04.
Also earning a spot on the All-State first team, Onosato finished the season ranked 165th in the country individually according to Golfstat. Her 72.6 stroke average ranked second-best on the ODU squad. The Japan native put together three top-15 performances over the fall and spring seasons, which was highlighted by a sixth place finish at the Moon Golf Invitational, hosted by Louisville, where she fired a season-low 69 and three-under overall. Onosato closed out 2020 ranked 32nd in the nation in par 5 scoring, averaging 4.72. Recorded 8 rounds of par or better through six events.
VaSID names 44 all-state teams in 23 sports each year, as well as an Academic All-State squad and an all-sports champion in both the University and College Divisions. Membership in VaSID is open to all media relations professionals working at a university or conference in the state of Virginia.
First Team
Virginia Bossi, Virginia
Emily Mahar, Virginia Tech
Jana Melichova, Old Dominion *
Alyssa Montgomery, Virginia Tech
Leah Onosato, Old Dominion
Second Team
Jayde Dudley, Radford
Kate Owens, James Madison
Riley Smyth, Virginia
Kendall Turner, James Madison
Cindy Zhou, William & Mary
VaSID Golfer of the Year – Jana Melichova, Old Dominion
VaSID Coach of the Year – Carol Robertson, Virginia Tech
VaSID Rookie of the Year - Alyssa Montgomery, Virginia Tech
* Golfer of the Year
Melichova Named VaSID Golfer of the Year; Onosato Earns First Team Honors
