Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University women's golfer Amely Bochaton (Evian-les-Bains, France) has added another prestigious honor to an already remarkable resume, earning recognition as a finalist for the Honda Award, presented annually to the top collegiate women's golfer in the nation.
 
The Honda Award is one of the most prestigious honors in collegiate athletics, recognizing excellence in competition, leadership, academics and overall achievement. Bochaton's selection places her among the elite golfers across all NCAA divisions and serves as another testament to the impact she made during her two seasons at Wingate.
 
The recognition comes after a historic 2025-26 season that saw Bochaton earn WGCA National Player of the Year honors, capture the NCAA Division II individual national championship and help lead the Bulldogs to a first-place showing in the NCAA Division II women's golf stroke play competition.
 
Two unforgettable seasons
 
After two unforgettable seasons in the blue and gold, Bochaton leaves Wingate as one of the most decorated student-athletes in program history.
 
Bochaton capped her final season with the Bulldogs ranked No. 1 nationally and regionally while posting a remarkable 69.1 adjusted scoring average across 41 rounds. She collected seven victories, 12 top-three finishes and spent the season atop the national rankings.
 
Her dominance came after an incredible debut campaign with the Bulldogs in 2024-25, when she also finished the season ranked No. 1 nationally and regionally. During her first year at Wingate, Bochaton recorded a 70.3 adjusted scoring average in 38 rounds, earning six victories and eight top-three finishes while helping elevate the program onto the national stage.
 
Across only two seasons at Wingate, Bochaton won 13 tournaments and established herself as one of the top players in NCAA Division II history.
 
Bochaton will continue her collegiate golf career at the University of Alabama, joining one of the premier women's golf programs in the country following her historic run with the Bulldogs.
 
"Wingate helped me grow both as a student and as a person"
 
While her success on the course earned national attention, Bochaton says her growth away from golf became equally meaningful during her time at Wingate.
 
"Coming to Wingate University has been an amazing experience for me academically and personally," Bochaton says. "At first, it was very difficult because English was not my first language, and I struggled to communicate and adapt to classes. But with hard work, support from my professors and classmates and determination, I became more confident every day."
 
"Today, I am proud of how far I have come, and I am very happy to be part of the Wingate University community because it has helped me grow both as a student and as a person," Bochaton says.
 
Bochaton credited Wingate faculty and staff members for helping her succeed academically while balancing the demands of collegiate athletics.
 
"Dr. DeLangie was my favorite professor because they always supported and encouraged me throughout my academic journey," Bochaton says. "I am also really happy that I spent two years at Wingate University because these years helped me learn, grow and create unforgettable memories."
 
"This team will make history for Wingate women's golf"
 
Bochaton's arrival helped spark the most successful stretch in program history under head coach JD Lamm.
 
The Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA postseason in both of her seasons and reached new heights during the 2025-26 campaign, finishing the NCAA Division II national championship stroke play event as the No. 1 team on a challenging PGA National layout.
 
Bochaton says the culture built within the program played a major role in both her individual and team success.
 
"I am so grateful to have been part of this team," Bochaton says. "I truly believe that the team we had this year will make history for Wingate women's golf."
 
"Personally, I could not have dreamed of a better final year," Bochaton says. "I gained much more confidence in myself, and it showed in my results. I would never have reached this level without the help of Coach JD and my teammates, and I thank them endlessly for these past two years."
 
A career to remember
 
Bochaton leaves Wingate after producing one of the most dominant two-year stretches ever seen in NCAA Division II women's golf.
 
Career accomplishments at Wingate
- Honda Award finalist
- WGCA National Player of the Year
- NCAA Division II individual national champion
- NCAA Division II team stroke play winner
- Two-time No. 1 ranked player nationally
- 13 tournament victories in two seasons
- 20 combined top-three finishes
- 69.1 adjusted scoring average in 2025-26
- 70.3 adjusted scoring average in 2024-25
- Led Division II in birdies during the 2025-26 season
- Helped Wingate rise into a national powerhouse
 
Bochaton's legacy at Wingate extends far beyond statistics and trophies. Through her growth academically, personally and athletically, she helped redefine what Wingate women's golf could become on the national stage before earning the opportunity to continue her journey at NCAA Division I the University of Alabama.
 
Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 18 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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(Editor's note: Wingate junior men's golf student-athlete Matthew Wordon contributed this article. He is an international business major from Bath, England.)