The University of California, Davis athletic department recently announced its 2020 Cal Aggie Athletics Hall of Fame (CAAHOF) induction class featuring five individuals, including Epson Tour professional Demi Runas (Torrance, California).
On March 16, days after competing in the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic, Runas received a call from the Hall of Fame Advisory Board to notify her of their selection. It was a moment she will never forget.
“That gave me the chance to think back on some amazing times,” said Runas, a four-time All-Big West First Team selection and three-time Big West Conference Player of the Year. “I always just wanted to represent the school in the best way I could, so I’m truly honored they felt I did that. I want to thank my amazing coaches and teammates, especially Coach Anna Temple for the nomination, and also Anne Walker, who was the first person to believe I could compete at the highest level. Without her guidance, I would not have come as far as I have in my golf career.”
During her collegiate career from 2009-2013, Runas led the Aggies to four Big West Conference Championship titles and added individualist medalist honors as a senior in 2013. That same year she became the first golfer to receive the Hubert Heitman Award, given to the university’s outstanding female athlete of the year. To this day, Runas remains the program’s career leader in scoring average (73.91), top-10 results (31) and top-five performances (18).
Runas accomplished another milestone when she concluded her 2014 Epson Tour rookie campaign at No. 9 in the Volvik Race for the Card to secure LPGA Tour membership, making her the first Aggie to ever do so. Across 45 career starts on the big stage, Runas owns a career-best of a tie for 25th at the 2016 Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. On the Epson Tour, she has three career runner-up showings, most recently at the 2019 Florida’s Natural Charity Classic.
“Demi put UC Davis women’s golf on the map. She bought into the vision we had of being one of the best teams in the country and then dedicated herself to being the leader of that charge,” said Walker, who served as the UC Davis women’s golf head coach from 2008-2012 and is now in the same position with Stanford University. “Demi always had a twinkle in her eye, a constant glimpse of her inner competitiveness and also, deep passion for life, golf and her dreams. She is most deserving of a place in the school history books and I’m glad she is receiving this honor.”
The Hall of Fame class will be recognized at an induction ceremony on Friday, September 4.
On March 16, days after competing in the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic, Runas received a call from the Hall of Fame Advisory Board to notify her of their selection. It was a moment she will never forget.
“That gave me the chance to think back on some amazing times,” said Runas, a four-time All-Big West First Team selection and three-time Big West Conference Player of the Year. “I always just wanted to represent the school in the best way I could, so I’m truly honored they felt I did that. I want to thank my amazing coaches and teammates, especially Coach Anna Temple for the nomination, and also Anne Walker, who was the first person to believe I could compete at the highest level. Without her guidance, I would not have come as far as I have in my golf career.”
During her collegiate career from 2009-2013, Runas led the Aggies to four Big West Conference Championship titles and added individualist medalist honors as a senior in 2013. That same year she became the first golfer to receive the Hubert Heitman Award, given to the university’s outstanding female athlete of the year. To this day, Runas remains the program’s career leader in scoring average (73.91), top-10 results (31) and top-five performances (18).
Runas accomplished another milestone when she concluded her 2014 Epson Tour rookie campaign at No. 9 in the Volvik Race for the Card to secure LPGA Tour membership, making her the first Aggie to ever do so. Across 45 career starts on the big stage, Runas owns a career-best of a tie for 25th at the 2016 Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. On the Epson Tour, she has three career runner-up showings, most recently at the 2019 Florida’s Natural Charity Classic.
“Demi put UC Davis women’s golf on the map. She bought into the vision we had of being one of the best teams in the country and then dedicated herself to being the leader of that charge,” said Walker, who served as the UC Davis women’s golf head coach from 2008-2012 and is now in the same position with Stanford University. “Demi always had a twinkle in her eye, a constant glimpse of her inner competitiveness and also, deep passion for life, golf and her dreams. She is most deserving of a place in the school history books and I’m glad she is receiving this honor.”
The Hall of Fame class will be recognized at an induction ceremony on Friday, September 4.
)
)
)
