Zimo Li, a sophomore from Emory University, has been named a finalist in golf for the DIII Honda Athlete of the Year, as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.

The announcement comes during a landmark moment for the organization, as the CWSA celebrates its 50th anniversary during the 2025–26 collegiate athletics season. Li is now among 11 elite finalists for this prestigious award, which recognizes the top NCAA Division III athletes across various sports. The DIII Honda Athlete of the Year will be selected by senior women administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools and will be honored during a live broadcast on CBS Sports Network on Monday, July 27th, at 7:00 pm ET, in New York City.

“I’m very honored to be named a finalist for this award,” stated Li. “This recognition would not have been possible without the support of my family, my teammates, coaches both back home and at Emory, and everyone who has helped me along the way. I will continue to trust the process and give my best effort. While this recognition is incredibly meaningful, I’m most proud of everything our team has accomplished together, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent Emory University and Division III athletics on this stage.”

Li recently earned Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) PING Division III National Player of the Year honors and was named a WGCA PING First Team All-American, adding to an already impressive collegiate resume that included WGCA Freshman of the Year recognition in 2025. Additionally, she was named the 2026 University Athletic Association (UAA) Player of the Year, the first player of the year winner in program history, and earned First Team All-UAA honors.

The sophomore from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, delivered top-10 performances in every event this season, highlighted by an individual title at the Space Coast Classic against a field featuring Division I competition. She also matched the program record for the lowest single-round score at the Tartan Invitational, carding a 66 (-6) in the second round. Li posted her lowest 36-hole total at the same event, finishing at 138 (-6), and capped off her remarkable season by earning the No. 1 national ranking in Division III.

“Zimo has been awesome since she arrived on campus,” stated head coach John Sjoberg. “From being named the National Freshman of the Year last season, to earning National Player of the Year honors this year, as well as winning two team national championships. Her consistency has been unmatched with nine of her 10 events this year being top-seven finishes. Zimo has been fun to watch since she arrived at Emory and seeing her as a finalist for this award is a huge honor!"

Now in its 50th year, the CWSA continues to honor the nation’s top female collegiate athletes for excellence in athletics, leadership, academics, and community service. Since partnering with Honda in 1986, the program has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants, strengthening and advancing women’s athletics programs nationwide.

About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility and the Honda USA Foundation 

For more than 65 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. The company’s mission is to create products and services that help people fulfill their life’s potential, while conducting business in a sustainable manner and fostering an inclusive workplace. Advancing its corporate social responsibility, Honda and the Honda USA Foundation support this direction through giving focused on education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety, and community.  

Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.