The University of Nevada, Las Vegas women’s golf team received major recognition on May 8 as the Mountain West Conference named junior Zi Yu Foong Golfer of the Year and Amy Bush-Herzer Coach of the Year. This marks the first time since 2018 that both awards have gone to UNLV in the same season.
These honors highlight a successful year for UNLV women’s golf. Both Foong and sophomore Amber Chen were also selected to the Mountain West all-conference first team, marking their debut on this list.
Foong, from Salangor, Malaysia, led the conference with a career-best scoring average of 71.75 and tied for most top-5 finishes with five across ten tournaments. She secured her first collegiate win at the Colonel Wallenberg Ptarmigan Ram Classic and contributed significantly to her team’s victory at the Mountain West Championship by making a decisive birdie on the final hole. “Zi has been outstanding all season, and seeing her deliver that championship-winning shot on the 18th (at Mission Hills Country Club) was a testament to her growth and composure,” said Bush-Herzer. “She has consistently put herself in the top of leaderboards all year. Her being recognized as the best in the conference is so well-deserved. She leads by example, and her passion for this team is what makes her special.”
Chen, originally from Taipei, Taiwan, finished second in conference standings with three top-5 finishes and maintained an average score of 72.87 over eleven tournaments during her breakout campaign. She claimed victory at Jackrabbits Invitational and matched a program-record low round with an eight-under-par score at Cowgirl Classic. “Amber has been an absolute force for us this year and seeing her earn first-team all-conference honors is a testament to the incredible work she puts in every single day,” said Bush-Herzer.
Bush-Herzer earned Coach of the Year recognition for a second consecutive season—her fifth overall—after leading UNLV to its ninth overall Mountain West team title and sixth under her tenure spanning fifteen years at UNLV.
Looking ahead, these accolades reflect continued strength within UNLV’s women’s golf program as it maintains its competitive standing within collegiate athletics.
